[Bobcatking]

I really like John and think he does things the right way. It’s a hard sell to say that Coach Perry will get you over the top. If he was a great coach why did he struggle at Morgan most years. Coach Noble is a great role model and top notch coach. I really like some of the players at Breathitt but parents can’t control the program. As far as kids transferring to Breathitt, I don’t think many kids are going to want come into that environment and take minutes from kids/parents that have been there. The sad thing is “Breathitt supporters” are not only trying to hire the new coach but also push some of the very kids out that make the job a top job out the door. Breathitt has a lot of top level talent but a coach can’t make players/parents want to play team first basketball. When individual stats are more important than winning you can only go so far. Finger pointing usually pulls teams apart more than bringing them together.

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In 23 seasons under Perry, the Cougars went 347-271. Perry directed Morgan County to the 2004 region tournament title, 2015 region runner-up status, seven district tournament crowns, the 2016 All "A" Classic region championship and a trip to the 2019 Kentucky 2A state tournament.

The first of those district championships came in 2000, in Perry's first season. He took over early in the season for Myron Huey. The Cougars were 7-13 that February before winning five of seven down the stretch, culminating in a 64-59 win over Menifee County in the 61st District Tournament final.

Four years later, Perry's Morgan County won a school-record 28 games, the last of which was a 54-42 defeat of Ashland in the region tournament final. That was the Cougars' first victory in three region championship games and sent Morgan County to its first and still only Sweet Sixteen.

Morgan County won three Eastern Kentucky Conference Tournament titles and four EKC regular-season championships under Perry's lead. He was a four-time EKC Coach of the Year and the 2004 All-Area Coach of the Year.