By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — The Jeff Richey era is over.
The Barren County football coach resigned Wednesday after three years at the head of the program.
Richey will remain in his position as Barren County dean of students.
He said the decision was solely his own, and that he had the full support of the administration.
The decision “came down to injuries and losses,” the former coach said.
“I don't want to be one of those guys that stays around too long and they have to force me out,” he said. “And if I could have done this ten years ago, I maybe could have stayed in to see it get to where the Barren County Trojans want to be.
“Ultimately, I gave all I had.”
Richey compiled a 10-23 record as coach. His tenure began in promising fashion with a 5-6 record in 2007, but the Trojans followed that with 2-9 and 3-8 campaigns in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
“(10-23) in three years isn’t what I envisioned. We beat all of our border teams (Metcalfe County, Monroe County and Glasgow), but when I looked at Bowling Green and Warren Central, (I saw) we weren’t closing the gap.”
Barren went 0-7 against Bowling Green and Central with Richey as coach. In three meetings with Bowling Green, the Purples outscored the Trojans 159-9. Central outscored Barren 209-26 in four games.
Despite the on-the-field struggles, Richey said he’s seen Barren football make strides during his tenure, especially on the financial side.
Barren County High School Principal Keith Hale said Richey helped improve the program in many ways.
“We’ve been fortunate to have Jeff,” Hale said. “I think he has brought our program a long way.”
Now Barren will have to find the person who will take the program the rest of the way, but according to Hale, the search for a new coach won’t begin until after the state tournament.
No official timeline for naming a successor has been set, Hale said.
“We will want the kids to have an idea of who they’ll have (by spring practice),” he said. “We definitely have a strong assistant staff in house that will be working out in the weight room with (the players), and that enables us to take a little more time.”
Hale said he doesn’t have the authority to hire or fire, but will send his recommendation to superintendent Jerry Ralston once it’s made.
What would become Richey’s final season was a tough one for the Trojans.
After opening the season with a 35-0 win over Metcalfe County, Barren lost its next four games to Bullitt Central, Glasgow, Monroe County and Grayson County.
Then came what Richey called the biggest win of his coaching tenure.
Barren upset Pulaski County 35-34 on Sept. 25 on homecoming night.
“After going through the roller coaster of the last four weeks, it shows you how resilient teenagers are,” Richey said after the win. “They bounce back a lot faster than us adults.”
The Trojans were unable to use the Pulaski win as momentum going forward, however, and lost to Warren Central 54-0 and to Russell County 49-14 in their next two games.
Barren’s final win of the season came against Ohio County on Oct. 23. The team followed that win with a loss to Bowling Green on senior night and fell to Christian County last Friday to end the 2009 season.
Richey said he’s thankful for the opportunity to coach at his alma mater — and is disappointed he “let down” his supporters — but decided to step aside because he wanted “what’s best for the program.”
“We battled and took it as far as we could take it,” he said. “I see an opportunity now to spend more time with my family, work in my administrator job and see what the next chapter is in my life.
“I wish the Trojans all the success and I’ll be their number one supporter for years to come.”
