Coaching programs. Get your coaching program here. You can’t tell who is coaching any of the basketball teams without a program.

At least that’s the way it seems.

It’s been a busy month with plenty of basketball coaching changes at area schools for both boys and girls.

South Point has hired former Ironton and Grove City Central Crossing coach Chris Barnes to replace the retired Gary Norris.

At Rock Hill, Bob Wilds will be doing his second tour of duty as the boys’ coach while Alvin Carpenter is switching from the Symmes Valley boys’ coach to the Rock Hill girls’ coach.

Filling Carpenter’s spot as the Vikings’ boys’ coach is Jerome Fuller.

Chris Ball has been hired to take over the girls’ program at Chesapeake High School.

Although Sammy Gue did an excellent job the past two years, he is now a principal in the school system and board policy does not want administrators to coach.

Jon Buchanan, who serves as the Fairland boys’ track coach, will add the girls’ basketball job to his duties.

The St. Joseph boys’ coaching job is vacant but the school is in the process of selecting a new coach.

Green will have a new boys’ coach with Bobby Blanton while Bucky Bridges takes over the girls’ program for Dale Royse who resigned.

Eugene Collins is the new boys’ coach at Portsmouth. I’ve worked with Eugene and he’s a great guy. I hope he wins every game — unless he plays a team from Lawrence County.

That’s 10 coaching changes plus other schools such as Portsmouth West, South Webster, Minford and Portsmouth Notre Dame.

Some of it can be attributed to the lack of support by the administration, some to the pressures to win even if you don’t have the talent. That’s how it is in today’s world of instant gratification: We’re with you all the way, win or tie.

And to clear up one area of interest, I mentioned last week that Amy Hughes had applied for the vacant assistant principal’s job at Ironton along with some other very qualified candidates.

The former Ironton and Chillicothe girls’ coach is not a candidate to return as the Lady Tigers’ coach because the job is not open.

Doug Graham — who has enjoyed his own success the past three seasons with three sectional titles, one district crown, a regional appearance and an SEOAL South Division title — remains the head coach.

–– Sinatra ––

Jim Walker is sports editor of the Ironton Tribune.