By CHARLIE HUST
Webster County High School has landed a very successful coach to take over its football program with the hiring of Mike Whitaker. Coach Whitaker comes to Webster County from Montgomery County where he has served as the offensive coordinator the past two seasons. He was a high school All-American player at Leslie County and continued his playing career at the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University before signing as a free agent to play for the New England Patriots.
“This is a tremendous hiring for our football program and our school,” noted WCHS Athletic Director Matt Bell. “Mike has been successful everywhere he’s been and there’s no doubt he can bring that success to Webster County.”
Whitaker began his coaching career in 1988 where he served as the quarterback coach for Madison Central High School. From there, he returned to his alma mater where he served as an assistant coach at Leslie County before becoming the head coach in 1993. He then left for Corbin where he earned 1998 Honorable Mention Coach of the Year for the state of Kentucky. The veteran coach has had other positions throughout his career including serving as the quarterback coach for Eastern Kentucky University before landing the head coaching position at Christian County where he earned his 100th career win.
In his coaching tenure, he has won six district championships, one regional championship, three regional runner-up, one state semi-final, two SEKC conference championships and three WKC conference championships and his teams have made the playoffs 14 out of 17 seasons as a head football coach.
He has led two different schools to undefeated regular seasons and three teams to at least 10-win seasons. In 1994, his team set five National High School Passing Records. 64 of his former players have gone on to play college football.
Whitaker stated that two reasons really stood out when it came to making his decision about taking over the struggling program at Webster County ... enthusiasm of Webster County administration and being close to family.
“My daughter and grandchildren live in Hopkinsville and we want to be close to them. That was a huge factor in the decision,” noted Whitaker. “I was also very impressed with the vision and direction that Matt (Bell) and Dr. (Rachel) Yarbrough have for the school and the football program. That was a big selling point as well, their willingness and drive to turn this program around.”
Whitaker also very pleased to learn that there would be a position available for a assistant coach of his choosing and he was quick to act on that measure.
“Ben Gore is coming with me. He’s an outstanding football coach and we’re very lucky to have him. Ben played on a state championship team at Christian County and also played at Murray State. He’s a great asset to any program and he’s coming to Webster to be my defensive coordinator,” Whitaker explained. “I’m very confident with can turn things around here at WCHS, I would have taken the job if I didn’t think so. It will take a ton of hard work for everyone involved to make this happen, but I believe the administration is willing to do what it takes to rebuild back to a winning program and I know as a coaching staff we can do the same. It certainly won’t come overnight and we will need the support of everyone in the community as well. I know that’s been there before and we look forward to the challenge of returning this program to successful football every Friday night.”
Not to be hampered by the current KHSAA “dead period” that runs through July 10, the veteran coach and his staff have already “hit the ground running” by contacting current assistant coaches Ronnie Pride and ?? and also watching video from last year’s Trojan games to analyze returning personnel.
“We’re now in the process of contacting kids and getting as many out for the team as possible. Of course that’s a bit of a challenge with school not being in session but we’ll make home visits if necessary,” Whitaker stated.