And the changes just keep on comin’.

Area high schools are going through some coaching changes with the latest at Russell (Ky.) where Merle Kidwell left the girls’ program to take over the boys’ team.

The girls’ job was then filled by Ron Reed who coached the boys’ team back in the 1990s. Reed recently was the head coach of the Chesapeake boys’ team following the departure of Norm Persin back to Oak Hill.

Those changes come on the heals of the hiring of Charlie Kitchen as the Green boys’ basketball coach replacing Dave Hopper.

Kitchen, a former Ironton assistant, coached at Portsmouth West last season following the resignation of the coaching staff just after the season began.

Kitchen was considered the architect of the strong Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ team of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Ironton advanced to the regionals on three different occasions and qualified for their first Final Four appearance.

John McClung has replaced Chad Belville as the Fairland boys’ basketball coach and Wheelersburg assistant Rob Woodward will take over as the Pirates football coach after the departure of Tony Lewis back to Indiana.