Paul Dunbar, West Jessamine football coaches resign

West Jessamine coach also steps down

By Mike Fields - mfields@herald-leader.com

For the fifth time in nine years, Paul Laurence Dunbar is looking for a new football coach.

Jason Howell has resigned after Dunbar went 3-19 in his two years as coach. Howell said he told Dunbar principal Anthony Orr two weeks ago that he was stepping down.

"It was one of those quiet step-away type of things, no hoopla surrounding it," Howell said. "It's for personal reasons, not just one thing.

New Dunbar football coach Jason Howell watched his team come onto the field for the first time but lightning, in the area delayed the beginning of the Dunbar -Bryan Station game in the season opener in Lexington, KY. on Friday August 29, 2008. Photo by Mark Cornelison Staff 6427

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"I feel like the program is on stable footing now. Everything is good to go with it. It's just time to let somebody else take it the next step."

Howell said he wished Dunbar could have won more games, "but no matter how much you improve, sometimes you're outmanned and outexperienced. We have some great kids who worked hard, and now they have some experience that will be a big help to them next year."

Howell said he is "absolutely not done with coaching." For the time being, he will remain at Dunbar, where he also serves as an assistant baseball coach.

There has been a revolving door on the Dunbar football office this decade. Mike Meighan started the Bulldogs' program when the school opened in 1990, and he led it for 11 years. Since Meighan retired after the 2000 season, Dunbar has had four coaches — Mark Peach (2001-02), Fred Barnott (2003-04), David Hensley (2005-07) and Howell (2008-09).

Howell, a Pikeville native, had been an assistant at Tates Creek before taking the Dunbar position.

■ West Jessamine Coach Randy Wood has resigned after two years, including a turnaround 9-3 record this season.

"I really didn't want the job when I took it, but they talked me into it," Wood said. "And even though we were winning this year, I didn't really enjoy it."

West Jessamine won its first seven games this season and finished 9-3. Its losses were to district powerhouses Boyle County (twice) and Lexington Catholic.