While winning 317-games total, Redman won 190-games at Male High in 18-seasons, winning three 4A titles
None other than Curtis Higgins, who spent 28-years coaching in the KHSAA, told the Dawahares, KHSAA Hall of Fame committee, “I believe that Jefferson County has never seen a greater football coach than Bobby Redman.” Higgins, who worked for Coach Redman at Waggener and Male for a period of eight (8) years, knows quite a bit about the topic. Higgins was inducted into the Greater Louisville Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017, so his opinion would carry more sand than most. Either way, regardless of whose endorsement he fetches, the fact remains Coach Redman won 190-games in 18-seasons as the HFC at just Male High in Louisville. Redman won three (3) titles and played for three (3) more.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Photo: JOHN SOMMERS / COURIER-JOURNAL
Louisville, KY: There is a term which may well apply to Bob Redman. That term is Renaissance Man.
A Renaissance man is a highly cultured individual, skilled and knowledgeable in a wide range of fields, particularly the arts and sciences. The ideal emphasized the development of one’s abilities across various domains, reflecting the belief in the unlimited capacity for personal growth and development.
We found this definition online. Don’t want to pass ourselves off as being too cultured, too learned.
Bob Redman tried some things, other than coaching high school football, in his life. Redman even tried politics. One might say, Redman was a Renaissance Man.
Redman ran for city council in Louisville’s 10th district. Redman was the Republican candidate.
The political plan appeared ill-conceived from its inception. After all, politicians don’t get to hit anybody, at least not with it being condoned.
In the race for the City Council, Redman lost to Pat Mulvihill. Mulvihill was the Democrat in that race back in 2015. We wager Mulvihill couldn’t coach a high school football team anywhere close to as well as Redman.
The problem may have been the matter didn’t touch or involve the game of football. Lots of people will tell you Bob Redman was tougher to beat than the Devil himself in football. Especially if Redman were employing his “Confusion Defense;” a scheme which garnered Redman plenty of fame and attention over his illustrious career.
Like we said, Redman has tried his hand at lots of things. We are told he’s quite the accomplished outdoorsman. We are told he’s an accomplished hunter.
Redman had coached football, run for office, and even hunts and is an avid outdoorsman
Friday Night Fletch
Redman has done lots of things. Redman even thought about coaching college football.
University of Louisville head coach, Howard Schnellenberger, offered Redman a chance to join his staff at Louisville. The opportunity was described in the following article written by Mike Fields.
Redman told Fields at the time, “Sure, college coaching had its appeal, the glamor of it, and the potential financial gain. But the deciding factor for me was that I had two kids that I wanted to see grow up. I know I made the right decision.”
Redman coached 18-seasons at Male High in Louisville, winning 190-games against 49-losses over that time. Redman was 3-3 in title games, winning all three (3) titles as a Male Bulldog (1993, ’98, 2000).
Redman finished runner up at Male twice (2001, 2002) and took Louisville Ballard to the title game in 1984, losing to Dan Goble‘s CCHS Colonels by four (4)-points (14-10).
When Redman retired he was fourth on the all time wins list in the KHSAA. Redman had an overall record of 317-115-1 coaching at Durrett, Ballard, Waggener, and Male.
Redman’s son, Chris, had a wonderful career. Chris played for dad at Male from 1991-1994.
Chris Redman started at QB for three seasons. Chris led the Bulldogs to a 4A title in 1993.
Chris Redman set national records in 1994. Chris set new marks for most TD Passes in a season (57) and most TD passes in a half (8), which he did twice.
With his son at the helm of the ’94 team, Redman’s team turned in a 12-1 worksheet, losing to St. Xavier in the Regional final. Chris Redman was the Parade Magazine‘s National Player of the Year.
Chris continued his collegiate career as a quarterback at the University of Louisville, where he became the third most prolific passer in NCAA history at the time he graduated college. Chris was drafted in the 3rd round, by the Baltimore Ravens, where he won a Super Bowl ring in his first season as the backup QB. Chris played 10 seasons in the NFL.
We have featured several of the KHSAA greats in this series. Several of these guys have had sons play for them and do very well.
Redman’s overall coaching record was 317-115-1, winning three titles and finishing runner up three times
KHSAA Statistical Website
Poppa Joe Jaggers, Sam Harp, and Jonny “Appleseed” Collins are just three examples off the top of our heads. All three of these coaching greats had sons whose stars shone brightly under dad’s tutelage, dad’s steady direction.
Perhaps, where one’s dad is among the KHSAA’s all-time coaches, the sons derive quite a bit of benefit. Chris Redman demonstrated well that his was an apple not falling far from Dad’s tree. There are plenty other examples of this phenomenon.
At the end of the day, Bob Redman was able to coach football at a championship level while still finding the time to be an excellent dad, an avid outdoorsman, and sneak in a run for council every now and then. Side hustles aside, Redman always knew on what side his toast was buttered. Redman was always able to focus on the all-important task, preparing his high school football team for battle.
We have talked to a Hall of Fame, former head football coach who claims Bob Redman may have re-patented Tear-away jerseys. According to this guy, Redman would have his managers carry several extra jerseys on Friday Nights. These jerseys were all cut up the seems to where they were held together by just a few remaining stitches.
The story goes that when a tackler grabbed a handful of a the running-back’s jersey, the jersey would tear away, leaving a half naked running back boogieing down the sideline towards both pay dirt and football glory. The anonymous coach told us, “It was really funny too, until it was your defense watching that bare-chested, son of a gun running towards your end-zone.”
His friends called him “Bobby” Redman. Redman always had a wealth of friends.
Redman retired from coaching the winningest coach in Jefferson County Public school history. Redman is one of only 13 or so coaches in Kentucky to win more than 300 games.
talking with QB Mike Logan/8-12-96
DURRELL HALL JR/COURIER-JOURNAL
Redman accomplished all of this while leading a gaggle of four different high schools (Durrett, Ballard, Waggener, and Male) competing around the Metro Louisville area. Competing in Louisville meant you weren’t going to play a bunch of “Joe Slappies.”
Three of the schools Redman coached regularly played in the same district as either Trinity or St. Xavier. Bob Redman beat Saint Xavier and Trinity well more than any other adversary who regularly played them. Redman beat Trinity and St. Xavier 18-times over the 30-seasons during which the teams competed.
Redman did all of this while raising a family. Redman did all of this while killing some game in the outdoors. Redman did all of this while seeking public office.
Redman was truly a Renaissance Man. Most of all, Redman was a heck of a football coach.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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