Franklin County's Joey Thacker is the state's 12th all-time winningest coach. (Franklin County Basketball Photo)
He’s been a fixture in Kentucky high school girls basketball and not only one of the winningest coaches in state history but also one of the coaches who always wanted to do anything he could to help girls basketball grow.
Franklin County coach Joey Thacker announced his retirement Monday at the team’s postseason banquet. Franklin went 26-6 this season and lost in the 11th Region semifinals to eventual champion Frederick Douglass. The Flyers did win the Class AA state championship.
“I never really imagined that I would end up a girls basketball coach during the majority of my vocational life, but I can honestly say that no one has been luckier than me after leading this program for the last 22 years,” Thacker posted on social media. “There are so many memories, wonderful young ladies and families that l’ve had the privilege to share this experience. All of you have been a true blessing to the utmost degree.”
He has been at Franklin County since 2003. He took the Flyers to the state title game in 2016 and 2017 and won seven 11th Region titles in a 10-year run. He had a career mark of 538-232 including his two years at Frankfort before he took over at Franklin County. He’s currently 12th on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association all-time win list.
Thacker was unique in a lot of ways. He was one of the state’s most quotable coaches and always had some great one-liners. He never seemed happy during games but loves his players and teams. He also was an assistant football coach at various schools in the same years he was coaching girls basketball.
Franklin has some extremely talented young players on the roster. One of them is sophomore point guard Makiyia Wheeler, who averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in Thacker’s team-oriented approach last season.
“There is nothing like a coach that never gives up on you. Especially when you are doubting yourself. I’ve been blessed with a coach that believes in me and pushes me past my limits to get me to the next level,” Wheeler posted on X after Thacker’s announcement.
However, she also had a longer, much more emotional post that shows a lot about Thacker and his impact on his players:
“Today was one of the hardest days in my Franklin County High School basketball career. Since I was in 6th grade, I could not wait to play for the Lady Flyers. It felt so good to see coach Thacker support us at our middle school games. My first year playing was my 7th grade year. Since then, @Coachthack has coached, trained, motivated, encouraged, and pushed me to be what he knows I could be.
“He held me accountable while also congratulating me on jobs well done. I watched him sacrifice day after day to be in the gym with us. He stayed strong while his family was handling health concerns. No matter what, he has always been there for us. For me, he has been one of the best coaches I have ever had.
“I have so much I could say, I’m just having a hard time getting my thoughts out. I love you coach Thacker. Thank you for being a coach that really cared about his players and not about the wins and losses. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for building a program that set the standard in the 11th region. After 22 years, 1 2A state championship, 2 sweet 16 state runner-ups, 5 Elite 8 finishes, 7 11th region championships, 94 straight 41st district wins with 12 straight district titles, and countless tournament championships, my coach will be retiring.
“It hurts to not be able to finish up my high school career with him as my coach, but I am so happy for him and his family. I am happy to say I played for coach Thacker since my 7th grade year and would not trade any minute of it. I would have loved to have just 1 more year with you. As always, I will continue to text you even if you are not my coach anymore lol. Sorry I didn’t get you the KHSAA state championship. I am going to miss you coaching me. Love you coach.”
The Flyers wore pink ribbons at the 2024 state tournament in support of Thacker’s wife, Matosha, who had been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in 11 years just before postseason play started. It was an emotional time and no surprise that Thacker would want to have more time to spend with his wife or college-age children.
