Louisa, Ky. — Long time Lawrence Co. Head Coach Kenny Horn has officially resigned after coaching the Bulldogs for seventeen years.
Coach Horn talking to his daughter Kendra while she was a player.
He was the head coach for 10 seasons and 11 if you count 2020 which was cancelled before the regular season started.
Horn won 241 games and lost 126 as the head coach. He coached a total of 17 years at Lawrence Co. and the Dawgs won 12 District and 2 region championships.
Former LCHS Head Coach Kenny Horn
Coach Horn with his wife Kim
“… I want to start by thanking my wife Kim who is at every game, kids love her and she loves them, and this was a decision we made together, when I speak as a coach I always say Kim and I. She has her favorites and she will tell you that but my all time favorite is my daughter Kendra. She graduated in 2011 and was on both region championship teams.”
“… Well, every year for the past three or four, I have coached year to year, halfway through this season some things happen in your life and it changes your direction, the path you’re on. And I’m a firm believer that God directs your path. So he saw fit, I didn’t really know halfway through, but I just got the feeling that this was my year, regardless how the season ended. And even it’s still difficult to let it go, it’s time.”
“… Yeah, I can’t wear another logo and I don’t say it just for speech to the kids, but I’ve told ’em all along that I believe in LC. You know, I played here and there’s a few years of my life we spent in Northern Ohio, but my life is in Lawrence County. And there’s nothing better when you go out and you perform well and you’re wearing a Lawrence County uniform. I believe that and for the most part, I think our kids believe that. Today’s society tends to lead more toward me, and not we, but our kids play good for each other, and they play hard together. I’m always thankful that the only logo have ever worn is, is that Lawrence County logo.”
“… Well our first regional championship in 2008 I’ll never forget this. I believe we were playing at Pikeville and Shantelle Horn my niece caught a fly ball to end the game. We won our first regional championship. And I looked at John Short and I said, we probably don’t realize what we just did and 15 years later or whatever it is. I now know that what I said that day was pretty prophetic. We’ve won another regional championship since then. In 2010, several runner ups finishes as well. And like I said, runner up is never what we want or intend it to be, but we do have high expectations and the next coach here should have that same expectation. And if you can’t win 25 games you’ve not done your job. Right. I love the expectations. I love to try to live up to the hype but sometimes it’s just not meant to be.”
“… Man I can’t even speak to the extent of the changes that’s been made here to our facilities. And it comes from so many different avenues, whether it comes from coaches, hard work, community support, administration, helping us to get to where we need to be. The board members voting to build this great new hitting facility.
And when that building’s done, there’ll be no better place, and I’ve been a little bit of everywhere. I’ve been all over the place I’ve coached my daughter when she was seven years old. Maybe, maybe it was eight. She’s 30 now I’ve been coaching softball a long time. Been a lot of different places, travel ball wise. And I’m not a turf kind of guy. Those turf fields are cute, but I don’t think you play ball on turf. But That’s just me. I’m a grass and dirt guy. I want them parents to have to work hard to get their grass stains outta them pants. I’m very grateful and pleased with what we’ve done. And I like to think I had a little bit to do with it. You can look across our whole campus, whether it be, football, with the upgrades at the football complex, the soccer field, the tennis courts the baseball field, just everything’s immaculate here. And it just shows you the pride that the people of Lawrence County put in their youth and the sports.”
“… I want to mention the Horn Dogs and they will know who they are with the likes of my daughter, Shantelle, Micheala, Samantha Fitzpatrick and hope I’m not missing anyone. The likes of Kelsey Caudill, She was tough as nails, I loved her and she just made a huge impact on me as a young coach. Her grittiness was unmatched, I remember asking for the ball at the state tournament. She had pitched, we’d beat the number two ranked team in the state in Reidland. And the next game against Central Hardin in the fifth or sixth inning We’re losing bases are juiced. She’s begging me not to take her out. And she reaches me the ball and it had blood on it and I just gave it back to her I ain’t about to take that. She’s a tiger man. Kristen Caudill another great one who played at Shawnee, I think of Ciana Bowen who played at WV Wesleyan was great and Josie Hardin who gave me the keys to success and I don’t know if the next coach is worthy of that, but I sure hope they take them. Kensley Feltner is the greatest leader I ever coached. And the kids that’s played with her will tell you that. The Triplett sisters, I remember Mackenzie Methax hitting bombs. I got so many good memories of those kids. Now you got Dani Crum who is just an amazing athlete. Taylor Blevins has a chance to be special, Gracie Preece and Bree Jones will be back and so much youth coming. You have to think about Natalie Rice man I had a good time coaching that kid and Ally Marcum, that’s family as well, I could just go on and on and on. Emily Mills and the Short girls, Halli Caudill the fastest person I know was gonna set the national stolen bases record if it wasn’t for COVID which took away from baseball and softball both teams were so talented. I also got to baptize Halli and conduct Courtney Sartin’s wedding, wow man those are some pretty cool moments.”
Josie Hardin gave these keys to success to Coach Horn and he will pass it on to the new coach.
“… I do want to thank our community and the support of all of the businesses. It’s incredible what they do. We’ve been able to do so much for the kids that may have never had a chance without them. Kids get to see the ocean for the first time and make memories because of the community support.”
“… I’ve been here through several superintendents and several Athletic directors, and they have all made it easy to be a softball coach here at Lawrence County. They let me coach. I made some mistakes. I’ve hurt feelings and I apologize for that to some extent. But it was all to try to be what a coach should be. And I, I’m getting a lot of texts and calls and it makes you feel like you’ve done a good job.”
“… Travis Feltner as my athletic director, over the last several years has just made it so easy to work these kids and to get things done for him. I appreciate him and all that he’s done for Lawrence County Athletics. Dr. Fletcher as well, and I hope that the next coach understands the importance of that at LC. And how it is to work with kids from Lawrence County to develop them. And, you know, today’s society, it’s all about going and getting your NIL deal or whatever. You know, it’s kind of like, if you don’t like this school, you go to the next school, transfer portal. And it’s like that in high school. And I do want to thank all the kids that I’ve coached whether they be from Louisa or Fort Gay, the two communities are great together. I’m forever grateful for all that.”
“… Lawrence County softball is special and will always hold a special place in my heart and I couldn’t have done without so much support and help through the years for all the hard work and dedication to me and the program. Joey Hardin, Dennis Bowen, TJ Caudill, Jimmy Methax, Carlo Marcum, Bobby Preece James and Stacy Jones and to my former head Coach Sam Sparks. I had some great booster help in the years past as well with people like Shawn Young , Lisa Methax, Harry and Jess Blevins. I just know that, ’cause of the people at Lawrence County, I’m a better person than what I thought I ever could be. Love you LC.”
