Cleveland High School has announced two coaching changes.
Kari Jo Harris will assume the head coaching role for the Lady Raider softball program while Blue Raider baseball will be lead by alumnus Preston Scoggins.
Harris and Scoggins are familiar faces to their respective programs both spending time as top assistants for the programs this spring.
“Today I feel like CHS athletics hit a ‘home run’ with these two young coaches,” principal Autumn O’Bryan said.
“Their level of energy and commitment to Blue Raider athletics is impressive. We look forward to watching many years of success for both of them.“
Harris succeeds Caitlin DeLoach, who guided the Lady Blue Raiders to a 4-13 record this past season.
Scoggins takes over the baseball program from veteran Ted Carson.
A 2007 Cleveland graduate, Scoggins was a three-sport standout athlete in high school. He experienced success quarterbacking the football team into the playoffs and helping both baseball and basketball to make state tournament appearances during his time as a Blue Raider.
After a successful baseball career at Lee University that included four trips to the NAIA World Series, coach Scoggins returned to his alma mater and the baseball program as an assistant for Coach Ted Carson while also being involved with both the football and basketball programs at Cleveland Middle.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity (and) ultimately grateful for Ted Carson,” Scoggins said. “He was a great coach and mentor when I played for him. For him to believe in me and open this opportunity up for me- I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Cleveland athletic director Eric Phillips said, “To have a former standout athlete come back after a successful collegiate career is always exciting. His work ethic, knowledge of the game and his relationships with the players made him the perfect fit to continue the Blue Raider baseball tradition.”
“I applaud coach Carson for his years of hard work as our head coach. He built a tremendous program that produced stellar athletes, and I think he has sealed his legacy as a Blue Raider by stepping aside and handing the program to a young man he coached and mentored.”
Carson coached 28 years at Cleveland, the last 15 leading the baseball program.
“Besides the accomplishments through the years, one of the most meaningful things has been the relationships that have developed with coaches, players, and their families,” he said.
“I have greatly appreciated the many years I have been able to coach alongside Dan Carson, Scott Carroll, and Dave Altopp. The CHS baseball program will be in great hands under Preston Scoggins. He has done a great job this year with his knowledge of the game and showed great enthusiasm and dedication to the program. I appreciate the administration giving me the opportunity to be part of the Blue Raider coaching staff all these years. I will continue to be a part of the baseball program at CHS and support Coach Scoggins during this transition.”
During his head coaching stint, Carson, who also attended Cleveland High, was selected as regional coach of the year twice and also led the Blue Raiders to two state tournament appearances.
Harris has been involved in Lady Raider softball for the last two seasons as an assistant for the high school program and as the head coach of the middle school. She also has served as an assistant for the high school girls basketball program since arriving to the school system three years ago.
Harris was a multi-sport athlete at Hopkins County Central High School in Madisonville, Ky., and was a standout in both softball and basketball. Harris was a power hitter and catcher for her high school softball team that played in the Kentucky state tournaments and won multiple district and region titles. She holds several school and state records for home runs, RBIs, and career hits.
In 2014 she was inducted into her high school Hall of Fame. Harris also played both softball and basketball at Lee University and was a part of multiple conference championships and national tournament appearances.
“I am extremely thankful to be a part of one of the top school systems in the state,” Harris said. “My vision for softball is to implement a system centered around hard work, pride and selflessness – something we have already been doing this past season. When a group of girls buy into and believe in a system, their team and their community the result is special. Our goal is simple: get better every day.”
Phillips said, “I am excited to have K.J. take over our softball program. Her experiences and accomplishments as an athlete are remarkable. “I want to thank Cailin DeLoach for her commitment to our softball program. She is a relational coach and did a tremendous job for our girls.”
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)