OVERBEY TAKES OVER AT WC

 Jerry Overbey has always dreamed about the day he would be a high school basketball coach. After years of hard work with the elementary and middle schools boys and girls’ programs at Whitley County, his dream of coaching on the high school level became reality last week when he decided to take the job as head coach of the Whitley County Colonels.

The former North Laurel High School player started coaching at the age of 20 in the Whitley County system at Oak Grove in 2000. He stayed with Oak Grove for three years before moving on to the middle school where he coached the boys’ for a couple of years. He made the transition to girls’ basketball in 2005 and had worked with Coach Larry Anderson and his staff since.

“We are absolutely elated that one of our own assistant coaches has been selected as Whitley County’s next head basketball coach.  Coach Overbey’s work over the past 11 years has shown him to be an exceptional person with a passion for quality education and high-level achievement,” stated Scott Paul, Whitley County Superintendent.

Overbey is a full time member of the Whitley County faculty in the special education department at Whitley County Intermediate. Alan Sweet, Whitley County High School Principal, said, “Coach Overbey has been a loyal assistant for the past several years, and we welcome him as our new head boys’ basketball coach. I have worked with Jerry in the past and know that he is an educator who understands our district well. I look forward to working with Coach Overbey as he continues the rich tradition of our athletic success.”  Mike Campbell, Whitley County Athletic Director, said, “I am thrilled about Coach Overbey being named as head coach and I am confident in his abilities to build our program into one that is fundamentally sound. A good coach develops a strong team that works together and everything else will fall into place.”

Overbey takes over a program that was district runner-up and made its first appearance in the 13^th Region Tournament in many years under Chris Baker. Baker led the Colonels to three straight winning seasons and had a four-year record of 59-52.

However, seven of those players graduated, leaving Overbey with a rebuilding situation at Whitley County.

He will work with next year’s team until the end of next week when dead period starts in Kentucky. “We are going to practice for the next two weeks before the dead period starts then come back in July and start back again,” said Overbey.

With most of the team camps being played in June, Overbey said he would work on putting in his system when the players return from the dead period. “Maybe late July we will find a couple of scrimmages.”

Overbey said the success at Whitley County would depend on the elementary schools. “We need to get them more energized about basketball. We have slacked in the past. Right now we have six freshmen over here and we should have ten freshmen every year,” he said.

“I think we need to start an AAU program at the elementary level,” he said.

Overbey wants to see all the teams from elementary to the high school to get more fundamentals. “You can’t get enough fundamentals. You do fundamentals everyday, practicing dribbling, shooting and form shooting.

If you can’t do the fundamentals it doesn’t matter what play you are going to run,” he said. “If you can’t put the ball in the hole you are not going to win.”

Overbey said he will have two seniors that he will rely on to lead the Colonels next season. “Aaron Petrey is a big strong kid and I think he has a lot of potential. We want to work on his outside game this summer.

Josh Couch, who didn’t play last year, but is coming back out. Right now he is the only point guard we have, so he is going to have some big shoes to fill,” said Overbey.

“We have a lot of young kids that will be freshmen that played well at the Cumberlands’ team camp recently,” said Overbey. “The eighth graders really held their own and they should help next season.”

Chris Taylor was the first to join Overbey’s staff as an assistant coach.

“First and foremost, I am an educator at heart and I have been groomed in this outstanding district,” said Overbey. “This environment and the relationships I have developed here have furthered my passion for creating a basketball program that will develop our students’ abilities and characters for the better. I want to lead a basketball program that is an extension of our values with a strong emphasis on good sportsmanship.” He also states,” Basketball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, from the blacktop of my driveway to now as a head coach for Whitley County.”