Caldwell County found its man in Christian County.
Kortez Ivory, a former Colonel player and assistant coach, was introduced as Caldwell’s new boys’ basketball head coach on Thursday afternoon.
It’s Ivory’s first head coaching job, but he has been mentored by several Christian County coaches.
“First, I’ve got to acknowledge coach Kerry Stovall. I actually played for him,” said Ivory. “I actually was able to be blessed enough to coach on his coaching staff before he left for his first time. I appreciate everything that he taught me.
“Next, coach Toby Miles. That’s when I just decided I wanted to be a head coach. He allowed me to take charge, take the reins. Even though he was the head coach, he allowed me to have a voice.
“And lastly, the coach that’s here with me today — coach Dior Curtis. He has been very vital to me in these short two years that I’ve known him. We met for the very, very first time under situations like this. He came in and took the job that I applied for at Christian County. He came in and he said, ‘I don’t do anything without you.’ So for that, I mean, I’m indebted to him. I would not be sitting in this chair if it wasn’t for him.
“He helped me prep me for my interview. He allowed me to be the coach that I wanted to be. He came to me in situations that he already knew the answer to, but he allowed me to coach. And in those moments and right or wrong, he stood beside me.”
Ivory was in line to be an assistant for Stovall with the new Christian County Tigers before getting the head coaching job at Caldwell.
He replaces Chuck Mitchell, who was not retained at Caldwell.
“We feel confident that he’s the right guy to lead the Caldwell County basketball program,” said CCHS principal Daniel Kukahiko. “We’re excited hearing his vision.
”He set a clear standard. I think the one thing that jumped out to us as we talked is, not just for next year’s team, but the future. He had done his homework about what we had coming back and what he would do with that group coming back, but also checked the box of what he would do for the future.
“So, setting a standard for himself personally and what he brought to the table, but also what he would expect of his players. And the thing about that is, is everything he told us was what kind of we already got from all the references we checked out.
“So when that lines up, the stars align and we move forward.”
Ivory takes over what figures to be an athletic team in Princeton. The Tigers were 14-16 this past season, but return much of that squad.
Caldwell said it had a large group of applicants for its boys’ coaching job.
Caldwell’s search for a girls’ head coach continues. Malissa Thomas stepped down from that position following the season.
