Coach went 57-32 as Purples head coach

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Bowling Green High School basketball coach Aaron Beth has resigned after his wife former Western Kentucky University player Leah Lineberry was hired at Marshall County.

His wife has gotten employment as a teacher back in Marshall County, where theyre both from, BGHS principal Gary Fields said. He said they were both going to move back there.

Beth was hired in 2002, replacing Mike Deaton, who coached the Purples for just one season. Beth was an assistant under Deaton during his one year at BGHS.

This was an opportunity we just couldnt pass up, Beth said. I hate leaving Bowling Green. Ive really enjoyed my last three years there as head coach and the one year as an assistant coach.

There are no openings for coaching positions at Marshall County, so Beth will not be coaching in any official position this upcoming season.

It was more or less just moving back home with his wife as a family decision, Fields said.

But Beth may be helping his father on the sidelines next season.

His father, Howard, is the longtime girls basketball coach at Marshall County. He holds the state record with 649 career victories in his 25 seasons.

Ill probably just be like a volunteer assistant this year, Beth said. Ive been around him coaching since I was little, so it wont be any different than when I was growing up.

Fields said he was very happy with the job Beth did in his three seasons as coach of the Purples.

Heck, he took us to the regional finals two out of the last three years thats pretty good, Fields said. Wed have loved to win one or both of them, but Aaron has done a really good job for us.

Beth was 57-32 in his three seasons at Bowling Green going to the Fourth Region championship game in 2003 and 2005, losing to Warren Central both times.

Under Beth, the Purples were 14-13 against District 14 competition, including an 0-12 record against region powerhouse Warren Central.

Bowling Green now finds itself in an unenviable position having to hire a basketball coach late in the summer.

It does make it difficult, Fields said. If its earlier in the summer or in the spring, there are more teacher openings at that point, which would give us more flexibility. We would also get more applicants.

The school is also in a bit of a time crunch to name Beths replacement.

We start school in less than a month, Fields said. That puts our timeline at a much faster pace than normal.

The Purples return three starters Michael Jackson, Shawn Savage and Rondale McMillian from this past years squad that finished 19-11.

I think its going to be a real exciting year for Bowling Green, Beth said. Itll be a good opportunity for whoever takes over there.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700