I agree that there is continuity (for this next year or so), but I thought Carroll is expected to retire at the end of the 10-11 school year (or the year after - I'm not exactly sure). Coach Carroll runs a 5-2 Monster scheme, and there sure aren't a ton of those guys truly versed in the 5-2 anymore. They may think they know it, but they're only skimming the surface of what the 5-2 really is. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Jason Warner's not in the school system, and so that takes away 2 of the most important people in the PHS program (Kubbs & Carroll) in the HS building within a year, year and a half. The biggest issue I see is that Cook has never been a coordinator and potentially could be looking for a coordinator on the other side of the ball when Carroll retires. In the heat of the battle, that could be his biggest weakness or struggle. Kubbs (O) and Carroll (D) have called plays for the last 21 and 14 seasons, respectively. It's a different ballgame (literally & figuratively) when you actually step into the play-calling role. Having better athletes than most other schools will definitely help in this area. Might be rough in his first game ever against St. Henry though...
Secondly, I think Cook really hasn't been anywhere outside of PHS to develop a more rounded philosophy of football, coaching, and running a program. Not that people want to lose, but sometimes being a part of losing program & staff is the best learning experience - it gives you new ideas, how to deal with troublesome, griping kids or parents, or even staffs that don't work well together, and a willingness to try new things to turn or change the direction of a program. As a coach, you always continue learning, and sometimes being on the other side gives you a better learning experience than just having W after W handed to you by the MOAC's of the world. He was at Mt. G for a single year under Lane Warner. As a part-time outsider at Mt. G your first year of ever coaching, you DO learn but it's all a blur Year 1. Plus, he was under a PHS guy. I'm sure there were PHS concepts in place, and that's likely what Coach Cook saw that first year b/c they were familiar concepts.
I worry that PHS administrators looked at this opening more as a "get it taken care of" situation rather than a "let's find THE BEST person for this job" situation and should have disregarded Lane Warner's administrative position or even opened it up outside the district. Football is what has driven PHS the last 20 years. People around the state know about PHS b/c of football. FB is what has helped all the other sports at the school improve - including female sports. It's brought a ton of money into the district, and people move into the district simply b/c of the sports. It all started b/c of football, and I just don't think the hiring process was viewed as that big a priority - or at least to that high of degree.
At the end of the day, I'm behind whoever is the new PHS coach. As an alum, I want them to win. Please take my comments as concerns, and just that. They are definitely not ridicule for Coach Cook. I've known Aaron, and I wish him the best.
Just making conversation pieces for a forum!