By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter
nbrockman@the-messenger.com
With Hopkins County Central football coach Rick Snodgrass' Dec. 17 resignation, western Kentucky lost one of the game's most successful coaches in the past two decades. The Storm also said goodbye to the school's only gridiron leader in its 12-year history.
Snodgrass, who capped his 19-year tenure in Hopkins County by guiding his 2008 squad to a 7-4 record, said he knew the timing was right to step away.
"It's been a fun trip, I knew this time would come," he said. "I could tell I was winding down. I've got some other issues that have come up in my life that are important to me."
The Storm lost in the first round of the playoffs, 38-9 to Franklin-Simpson, but Snodgrass has led the program to the postseason eight of 12 years, including the school's lone playoff win in 2003.
"He's kept a consistent winning program here at Central, and I think if you asked any kid who played for him they would tell you he works hard and he cares about the kids," Central athletic director Nancy Oldham said. "I hate that he's retiring, but I've been in that position and you know when it's time to go."
Before coming to Hopkins County, Snodgrass began his coaching career at Southern Academy, a private school in Greensboro, Ala., as an assistant in 1984. The following season, Snodgrass accepted the head coaching job and in 1986 he won the state's Class A private school playoffs and was named West Alabama Coach of the Year.
After three seasons as Southern Academy's head coach, Snodgrass became an assistant at South Hopkins High School in 1988. By 1990, he took reign of the program and continued control when it consolidated into Central.
Snodgrass, who capped his 19-year tenure in Hopkins County by guiding his 2008 squad to a 7-4 record, said he knew the timing was right to step away.
"It's been a fun trip, I knew this time would come," he said. "I could tell I was winding down. I've got some other issues that have come up in my life that are important to me."
The Storm lost in the first round of the playoffs, 38-9 to Franklin-Simpson, but Snodgrass has led the program to the postseason eight of 12 years, including the school's lone playoff win in 2003.
"He's kept a consistent winning program here at Central, and I think if you asked any kid who played for him they would tell you he works hard and he cares about the kids," Central athletic director Nancy Oldham said. "I hate that he's retiring, but I've been in that position and you know when it's time to go."
Before coming to Hopkins County, Snodgrass began his coaching career at Southern Academy, a private school in Greensboro, Ala., as an assistant in 1984. The following season, Snodgrass accepted the head coaching job and in 1986 he won the state's Class A private school playoffs and was named West Alabama Coach of the Year.
After three seasons as Southern Academy's head coach, Snodgrass became an assistant at South Hopkins High School in 1988. By 1990, he took reign of the program and continued control when it consolidated into Central.
Since his days at South Hopkins, three of five coaches have made the entire journey with Snodgrass: John Arnett, Chris Crawley and Marty Wabnitz.
Arnett, the team's line coach, said Snodgrass' former players never forget the impact the coach had on their lives.
"Even today, we go out to places and kids that we've coached from the beginning, they think the world of us and still call us coach," Arnett said. "No matter where you go, you run into them. They're always coming up to you and hugging you and telling you how much they appreciate everything you've done."
Zach Hibbs, also a line coach, played as a right tackle under Snodgrass from 1996-99 and returned this season for his fourth year as an assistant with the Storm.
"As far as coaches in western Kentucky go, the loyalty that coach (Snodgrass) has had, that spills over to everybody that has been on any of his teams or any of his coaching staffs," Hibbs said.
After coaching nearly two decades in Hopkins County, plenty of stories emerge and one of Snodgrass' favorites regards Hibbs.
Hibbs said he came under Snodgrass' fire when he was caught trying to sneak out during the team's stay at Dawson Springs' 4-H camp.
"He ended up running me until the sun came up," Hibbs said. "He's always gone on record to say that I'm the one that every time we went to camp, I got caught. No matter what we were doing, I was the one that got caught."
For Arnett, it's the little things like predicting the outcome of a game that he'll remember about the way Snodgrass roamed the sidelines.
"When we would break the huddle and line up, he'd walk by and go, 'This is six points right here,'" Arnett said. "That would be if the quarterback executed right, the receiver caught it, and he didn't say it too often, but usually when he did it was a touchdown."
More than wins and losses though, Snodgrass' peers and former players will remember how he helped shape their values.
"That was the whole thing, building character," Arnett said. "He always wanted to build character in them and he always wanted them to know football's just a small part of a their lives."
Oldham said Snodgrass kept an eye on all aspects of his players' lives.
"He's constantly checking their grades, talking to the teachers, taking care of the problems that the kids have out of school," she said.
In addition to Hibbs, David Sullivan and Steven Woods also joined Snodgrass' staff after playing for him.
"I think anytime a coach has three former players on their coaching staff, I think that says something about the type of man that he is, that people want to come back and work for him," Oldham said.
Hibbs said it's Snodgrass' passion for the game that has made him who he is as a coach.
"When I get those little brief episodes where I get to see that intensity, it gets me excited and I can say I actually coach about the same way," Hibbs said. "I'm very intense at times with my coaching because of what he's done."
For a coach like Snodgrass, who has invested much of his life into his players and coaches, Hibbs' comments may be the greatest compliment to a man who said he doesn't worry much about the legacy he'll leave.
"I'm just a high school football coach, I teach and coach," Snodgrass said. "That's what I went into it for, because I love working with kids and I like being around the kids. I like being around the sport and the camaraderie of the team and the coaches. That's probably what I'll miss more than anything, the camaraderie."
Breakout Box
-25 years coaching
-19 years coaching in Hopkins County
-112-117 overall head coaching record
-67-62 record at Central, eight playoff appearances
-24-43 record at South, five playoff appearances
-21-12 record at Southern Academy
Arnett, the team's line coach, said Snodgrass' former players never forget the impact the coach had on their lives.
"Even today, we go out to places and kids that we've coached from the beginning, they think the world of us and still call us coach," Arnett said. "No matter where you go, you run into them. They're always coming up to you and hugging you and telling you how much they appreciate everything you've done."
Zach Hibbs, also a line coach, played as a right tackle under Snodgrass from 1996-99 and returned this season for his fourth year as an assistant with the Storm.
"As far as coaches in western Kentucky go, the loyalty that coach (Snodgrass) has had, that spills over to everybody that has been on any of his teams or any of his coaching staffs," Hibbs said.
After coaching nearly two decades in Hopkins County, plenty of stories emerge and one of Snodgrass' favorites regards Hibbs.
Hibbs said he came under Snodgrass' fire when he was caught trying to sneak out during the team's stay at Dawson Springs' 4-H camp.
"He ended up running me until the sun came up," Hibbs said. "He's always gone on record to say that I'm the one that every time we went to camp, I got caught. No matter what we were doing, I was the one that got caught."
For Arnett, it's the little things like predicting the outcome of a game that he'll remember about the way Snodgrass roamed the sidelines.
"When we would break the huddle and line up, he'd walk by and go, 'This is six points right here,'" Arnett said. "That would be if the quarterback executed right, the receiver caught it, and he didn't say it too often, but usually when he did it was a touchdown."
More than wins and losses though, Snodgrass' peers and former players will remember how he helped shape their values.
"That was the whole thing, building character," Arnett said. "He always wanted to build character in them and he always wanted them to know football's just a small part of a their lives."
Oldham said Snodgrass kept an eye on all aspects of his players' lives.
"He's constantly checking their grades, talking to the teachers, taking care of the problems that the kids have out of school," she said.
In addition to Hibbs, David Sullivan and Steven Woods also joined Snodgrass' staff after playing for him.
"I think anytime a coach has three former players on their coaching staff, I think that says something about the type of man that he is, that people want to come back and work for him," Oldham said.
Hibbs said it's Snodgrass' passion for the game that has made him who he is as a coach.
"When I get those little brief episodes where I get to see that intensity, it gets me excited and I can say I actually coach about the same way," Hibbs said. "I'm very intense at times with my coaching because of what he's done."
For a coach like Snodgrass, who has invested much of his life into his players and coaches, Hibbs' comments may be the greatest compliment to a man who said he doesn't worry much about the legacy he'll leave.
"I'm just a high school football coach, I teach and coach," Snodgrass said. "That's what I went into it for, because I love working with kids and I like being around the kids. I like being around the sport and the camaraderie of the team and the coaches. That's probably what I'll miss more than anything, the camaraderie."
Breakout Box
-25 years coaching
-19 years coaching in Hopkins County
-112-117 overall head coaching record
-67-62 record at Central, eight playoff appearances
-24-43 record at South, five playoff appearances
-21-12 record at Southern Academy
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