y Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Will Weaver said several factors caused him to originally accept the head football position at Mercer County, but one reason to stay at Madisonville-North Hopkins was enough to make him restless and eventually return.
Less than 48 hours after accepting the Mercer job, Weaver announced his resignation Wednesday morning and intention to fulfill his commitment to see his first freshman class through to graduation.
"I couldn't hardly sleep (Tuesday night) just thinking about the promise that I had made to those freshman," Weaver said. "A lot of kids have put their trust in me and the community has always been there for me.
Upon his original hiring at North, Weaver made it clear he would not be a part of North's recent history of briefly tenured coaches.
"I had the freshmen raise their hands," Weaver said in the April 28, 2007 edition of The Messenger. "I told them I'd make one promise to them -- that I'll be the coach here when they graduate."
Weaver said he held a team meeting with the Mercer players Wednesday morning and shortly thereafter made the choice to resign.
"All I kept thinking is about the commitment I made to my kids and those (Mercer) guys weren't my kids," he said. "I went back and talked with my wife. We made a family decision that no matter what happens we're coming back here and finishing our commitment. We're happy in Madisonville and we're 100 percent sure about that decision."
Less than 48 hours after accepting the Mercer job, Weaver announced his resignation Wednesday morning and intention to fulfill his commitment to see his first freshman class through to graduation.
"I couldn't hardly sleep (Tuesday night) just thinking about the promise that I had made to those freshman," Weaver said. "A lot of kids have put their trust in me and the community has always been there for me.
Upon his original hiring at North, Weaver made it clear he would not be a part of North's recent history of briefly tenured coaches.
"I had the freshmen raise their hands," Weaver said in the April 28, 2007 edition of The Messenger. "I told them I'd make one promise to them -- that I'll be the coach here when they graduate."
Weaver said he held a team meeting with the Mercer players Wednesday morning and shortly thereafter made the choice to resign.
"All I kept thinking is about the commitment I made to my kids and those (Mercer) guys weren't my kids," he said. "I went back and talked with my wife. We made a family decision that no matter what happens we're coming back here and finishing our commitment. We're happy in Madisonville and we're 100 percent sure about that decision."
After meeting with the Mercer squad, Weaver informed principal Terry Yates he planned to return to North.
"He met with the players this morning, and he came in and met with me" Yates told The Advocate-Messenger in Danville. "He felt it was in the best interest of him and his family.
"We're obviously disappointed. We felt like we had a good commitment from him, and things were going in the right direction."
News of the decision traveled fast to Hopkins County.
Maroons football booster club president Jamie Buchanan said Weaver called him with the latest Wednesday morning.
"I just know he is coming back and the only thing I can say is I'm glad to see the coach is coming back just to fulfill his commitment that he made to these boys two years ago," Buchanan said, "because the kids are the most important thing out there in that facility."
The process of Weaver's determination to come back began Tuesday evening when Weaver discussed the possibility with Hopkins County Schools superintendent James Lee Stevens.
"I actually called (Tuesday night) to see if that was an option because I thought about it all night," Weaver said. "When I found out (Wednesday morning) that was a viable option, then after the team meeting I had up there (Wednesday), I knew what I had to do."
Still several factors made the Mercer position difficult to turn down.
"I guess I was caught up in it was a significant pay raise," Weaver said. "They had an indoor practice facility. They just merged two high schools that both had good tradition. They won the state championship a couple years ago.
"There was a lot of appealing things and it being close to Lexington, and they offered my wife a job at the high school along with me. There were a lot of things that were pulling me toward that job."
Weaver said the booster club didn't offer him more money to return. He simply did not want to turn his back on the players he made a promise to two years ago.
"There wasn't any negotiations or anything that went on, period," Weaver said. "I missed my kids. I'm back to finish my commitment and just wanted to know if I would be welcomed back. Mr. Stevens gave me the OK and said he would accept me back with open arms."
"He met with the players this morning, and he came in and met with me" Yates told The Advocate-Messenger in Danville. "He felt it was in the best interest of him and his family.
"We're obviously disappointed. We felt like we had a good commitment from him, and things were going in the right direction."
News of the decision traveled fast to Hopkins County.
Maroons football booster club president Jamie Buchanan said Weaver called him with the latest Wednesday morning.
"I just know he is coming back and the only thing I can say is I'm glad to see the coach is coming back just to fulfill his commitment that he made to these boys two years ago," Buchanan said, "because the kids are the most important thing out there in that facility."
The process of Weaver's determination to come back began Tuesday evening when Weaver discussed the possibility with Hopkins County Schools superintendent James Lee Stevens.
"I actually called (Tuesday night) to see if that was an option because I thought about it all night," Weaver said. "When I found out (Wednesday morning) that was a viable option, then after the team meeting I had up there (Wednesday), I knew what I had to do."
Still several factors made the Mercer position difficult to turn down.
"I guess I was caught up in it was a significant pay raise," Weaver said. "They had an indoor practice facility. They just merged two high schools that both had good tradition. They won the state championship a couple years ago.
"There was a lot of appealing things and it being close to Lexington, and they offered my wife a job at the high school along with me. There were a lot of things that were pulling me toward that job."
Weaver said the booster club didn't offer him more money to return. He simply did not want to turn his back on the players he made a promise to two years ago.
"There wasn't any negotiations or anything that went on, period," Weaver said. "I missed my kids. I'm back to finish my commitment and just wanted to know if I would be welcomed back. Mr. Stevens gave me the OK and said he would accept me back with open arms."
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