2024 Interview with Boyd County (Ky) Head Coach Evan Ferguson

 

Evan Ferguson

Boyd County

Head Coach

Marshall University 

Would you share with everyone your coaching career, from your first job up to your current position?

After I finished my playing career at Marshall University, I started coaching at Wayne High School in WV. I was lucky to be on two state championship teams and a state runner-up. After that, I went to my alma mater at Coal Grove High School in Ohio to take on my first head coaching job. In our first season there in 2017, we went 11-2, won the conference championship, and were the Region Runner-Up. Started at Boyd County in 2019. We were district champs in 2022 and district runner-ups in my second season of the COVID year 2020. 

Who are some of the coaches you have learned the game from, and how much of what you have learned from them will you incorporate into what you do?

I have learned a lot from numerous coaches throughout the years. From both my playing and coaching days. But I have to give a lot of credit to Tom Harmon (HC at Wayne in WV) for being able to learn a lot about the steps to building a program and what has made him successful over the years. I feel like overall I have learned from my positive and negative experiences that I’ve had from all of my coaches through the years and want to do my best to give my players the best version of what I feel like a coach should be. I am always learning with the times, and it will always continue to change over the years.

How important is the grid game not only for the team but also for the coaching staff?

There are always different points of emphasis in scrimmages or any grid game. I think for the kids, it’s a great opportunity to finally hit someone different than their buddies in practice every day. But to get timing down and see how we have new players react when it’s live is very valuable. 

What are your thoughts on playing out-of-state teams, and will you be playing any once you have openings in your schedule?

We currently play in South Point, Ohio. I think in our area, right on the edge of both Ohio and West Virginia, it makes it easier to get local games. I will always look at it on a case-by-case basis going forward. 

How important is it to you that all of the lower levels throughout the program play a full schedule?

It is extremely important. We have to develop our program from the ground up, and that has been my biggest point of emphasis since coming to the county. We want to win with Boyd County kids that have grown up and played together for years. Our current JFL and MS are at historic levels of participation, and our high school team has been on an upswing. You can win games and have some good years occasionally by not focusing on building a program, but to get a consistent winning program year after year, the foundation has to go from the ground up. 

What are your biggest concerns heading into the 2024 season?

I think I fall into the cliche every coach says, but staying healthy is paramount for us. We hope to continue to push our conditioning hard, and hopefully, if we stay healthy and are in great shape, we can finish the second half of games better than last season. 

When you are in a blowout-type game, when do you pull the starters?

This can be on a case-by-case basis, winning vs. losing. As coaches, we all inevitably find ourselves on both sides of this at some point in our careers. I think, simply put, when the outcome is no longer in jeopardy, you want to start working on your future players as soon as it is safe to do so from a W-L perspective but also from a size/age perspective. We don’t want a young freshman or sophomore out there getting hurt by a varsity senior that got left in on the other side. Luckily, most head coaches in our area do a great job of being on the same page with this.

What mark do you believe the 2024 class has left on the football program?

It was the first time in over 20 years we have had back-to-back 500 or better seasons. Winning a district in 2022 and then playing as hard as they can in their final game with Johnson Central and being up at halftime to a state power shows the direction we are headed. 

In the future, will Boyd County host a bowl game similar to the Pike County Bowl?
Which of all the bowl game events I have taken part in is the best in the state.

I honestly like old-school home and away games but am not opposed if the right opportunity presents itself. 

What is the most rewarding part of being a high school football coach?

Outside of winning, it is hard to beat seeing a kid who has worked hard and done everything right for years in the program finally succeed, but it’s without a doubt seeing former players working to be successful in life, not just on the football field.

Can you let the readers know the players from the 2024 class that will be moving on to play ball in college, along with the name of the school?

We didn’t have anyone from the ‘24 class decide to play football at the next level, even though we had some opportunities. We should have several more opportunities in this 2025 class. 

As the head coach, what do you do to help your players get recruited?

Make prospect lists for each kid and send them (sometimes multiple times) to every college within a few-hour driving radius. Always follow that with phone calls and leaving voicemails. Try to be their biggest fan on Twitter, with retweets and likes. Compile college camp schedules to remind our kids when they can showcase their talents. 

What is a talent or skill that you have that would shock your team?

Well, they definitely know I can’t sing or dance, so I can’t get away with a lie there. But I’d say they would be surprised that I love to cook and fix dinners, as they usually only see me eating whatever I can scarf down quickly. 

When you have any free time, what do you do for fun?

I love to fish bass tournaments and go hunting when I’m not coaching or spending time with my wife and family. 

What is your go-to snack?

Absolutely anything, but if I’m on the boat, you’ll usually catch me with a bag of Mingua Beef Jerky somewhere.