Coach Pete Fraley with Bailey Rucker when she announced she would play basketball at Centre College.
After the stunning news Wednesday that Wayne County boys basketball coach Rodney Woods was not being retained despite being the state’s fourth all-time winningest coach and two-time state coach of the year, it was refreshing to see the reaction to the retirement of another long-time coach — Pete Fraley of Boyd County.
Players, parents and fans were outraged by Woods’ ouster based on all he’s done at the school for 38 years and should have been.
Fraley coached Boyd County for 28 years and had 560 wins, the most ever by a 16th Region girls coach. His teams reached the regional finals 15 times.
One of his former players is Centre College junior Bailey Rucker, a Kentucky all-star who was a fixture in his lineup and now has over 1,000 points at Centre.
Rucker shared an emotional, appreciative social media post about his retirement.
“We have a really good bond,” Rucker told me Thursday and confirmed he often came to Centre College to see her play when he could.
She also agreed to let me share her Facebook post here:
“I was blessed to have been coached by Coach Fraley for 6 years. In those 6 years, we won 6 district championships, played in 6 straight region finals with 3 consecutive wins, 3 sweet 16 appearances, and a state final four appearance. Although those memories were great, the personal relationship I developed with Coach was what meant the most.
“As early as elementary school (when I still shot with 2 hands) he believed in me and became my biggest advocate. He not only developed my game but developed me as an individual. He always made sure we were spoiled. From Vegas trips, beach trips, getting the best gear that was out at that moment, taking us out to eat, making dinner, whatever the case, he took care of us.
“To this day, I still call and text him whenever something comes up. He still writes me letters to check in, makes the effort to drive out of town to come see me play in college, still gives me gear and even offers to cook his world famous chicken when I’m home.
“Coach Fraley’s legacy is so much more than on the basketball court, and I’m so fortunate to say I was his player. Happy retirement Coach.”
Say amen high school sports fans. This is the impact a coach can have on athletes. Fraley certainly did and so did Woods.
Fortunately, Fraley got to go out on his own terms with the accolades he deserved. Woods should have had the same opportunity but instead was banished from a job he’s done very, very well for 38 years and wanted to keep doing. However, my guess is that the admiration Rucker has for Fraley is exactly the kind of admiration many former Wayne County players have for Woods.
