Slow Motion Replay: Hoover Niece, walked 14 miles out of Cane Holler straight into the KHSAA, Dawahares Hall of Fame @EstillAthletics, @LCC_Football, @mjholcomb24, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

Niece taught way more than Football

Niece put in 27-years at Estill County, winning 128-games, two sub-district championships, coaching thousands of players including four first-team all-staters and a finalist for “Mr. Football” who also made a HS All-American football team. Niece was twice an assistant coach for the Kentucky All-Stars in the Kentucky-Tennessee game. “Hoover’s boys” knew he genuinely cared, encouraged, and promoted them and would discipline them when required. Niece was fair. Niece was equitable. Niece was deservedly enshrined as a member of the Dawahares, KHSAA Hall of Fame.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Irvine, KY: If I a writing an article about Hoover Darrell Niece, and you can see that I am, I wouldn’t start with his record. I wouldn’t start with his players, his championships, or his all-star experiences.

I wouldn’t start with the man who was the head coach at Estill County for 27 years following two years as an assistant. I would start even earlier than that.

The true “Niece legend” begins earlier than Irvine, Kentucky. It begins in Letcher County.

It begins in Colson, a place outside of Whitesburg. It starts in a “Holler” where so many other “Appalachia” stories begin.

I would start with this anecdote, right here:

Niece reportedly walked 14-miles from his home in Cane Holler in Colson, Kentucky to and from practice just so he could play football. Colson is in Letcher County near Whitesburg.

However, to Niece’s great chagrin, Colson wasn’t that close to Whitesburg and its high school. I mean, it was a mean walk if you catch what I a throwin’ down.

When the coaches at Whitesburg heard of Niece’s trek, they started providing him a ride. Niece was a star in football and basketball at Whitesburg High School. Niece reportedly made all-state in both his junior and senior years in both football and basketball.

Star players often net a star’s treatment. All-Staters may walk 28-miles, round trip, to and from practice; but, they don’t do it for long. No sir; that’s a guy we fetch-up, as we used to say in the day.

Niece went to EKU to get an education and play football. We have no idea whether Niece hoofed it to Richmond, Kentucky or whether the Colonel coaching staff provided transportation.

We just know Niece showed up when it was his time. One could aways count on Hoover Niece to show up.

Niece’s athletic career was derailed by injury. His academic and eventual professional career weren’t.

Niece graduated from Eastern Kentucky University and started his teaching and coaching career in neighboring Estill County. In 29 seasons, the first two as an assistant, he helped the Engineers to two sub-district championships.

In addition to the sub-district titles, Niece coached four (4) first-team All-State players, one (1) “Mr. Kentucky Football” finalist, one (1) Kentucky All-Star and one (1) HS All-American. In 27 seasons, ECHS was 128-108-1 and Niece was twice selected to the Kentucky All-Star team’s coaching staff, as an assistant, to battle Tennessee in the Kentucky/Tennessee game.

Coach Niece was a motivator. Where Niece was the biggest winner was in molding the young men entrusted to his care into productive citizens. Niece’s players learned as much, or more, about life than football, and they learned plenty football.

Niece was among the few football coaches to lead the Engineers, for any lengthy period, while still winning more games than he lost. Sometimes the difference between a “sway-back nag” and a “thoroughbred champion” is geography.

You can say whatever you want, but Irvine, Kentucky is a tough place to win games, much less championships. Niece winning more than he lost, over a 27-year period, at a school in Irvine, Kentucky, in a sport like football, is incredible.

Is it hall of fame worthy? The Dawahares KHSAA Hall of Fame thought so, that is why he was selected a member of its 2022 induction class. For whatever it is worth, we would agree.

Then again, what do we know?

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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