TELL CITY —It’s been more than three decades since Perry Central hired a basketball coach with experience.
That dates back to 1989 when the school hired Gene Heffington, according to athletic director Ray James.
Now the Commodores have a triple-threat in Jeff Litherland: connection to the community, experience and school alumnus.
“On the personal side, Jeff was a Perry Central grad and he played at Perry, he coached under Matt for a year before he left and went to Forest Park,” James said. “He knows our town, he knows our kids. When he came in and interviewed, he talked very passionately and very personally about our athlete and their family. I don’t think with this hire we will have to go through two or three years of growing pains like we would if it was some of the other coaches that applied. I don’t see a learning curve for Jeff.”
Litherland’s coaching chops include tutelage of Forest Park in the middle of 2013 and concluding in 2018 with a berth in the state finals.
“Forest Park had some tradition there,” Litherland said. “I remember I had them the incoming freshman summer of their careers, I sat them down. I said, ‘Guys, you have an opportunity to make it to the state championship game.’ They were bound, and determined. Those kids believed in me and our program. I learned that. You got to have kids that believe in what you are talking about. It’s a lot of hard work. You got to have a lot of assistant coaches that are willing to sacrifice, as well.”
It was a lengthy undertaking that started with kids at the youth levels.
“Being able to build relationships with players and that group of seniors that I took to the state finals they were some kids that were sixth, seventh and eighth graders that I worked really hard with in the offseason,” he said.
That will be a point of emphasis as he returns to his old stomping grounds. His familiarity with players and parents will make it a solid fit.
He was formerly the coach of Camiren Etienne’s dad, Etienne will be a senior next year.
The Tell City resident returns to the fold after being MIA for three years due to personal reasons.
This included taking care of his three children. His oldest Mayci will be an incoming freshman at Heritage Hills, he already scoured the schedules of Heritage Hills and Perry Central from 2019 to make sure he could make mid-week games.
The clock turned quickly for this appointment.
Former Coach and alumnus Matt Carter turned in his resignation on March 22 prior to this announcement three weeks later.
“Matt’s one of my best friends,” Litherland said. “I was on staff, coaching at Perry in ’96 through ’99-2000. Whenever Dave Reece was there. Dave was my coach in high school. I got into coaching way back when. Matt was there and my brother, Dave was there. I’ve known Matt for a long time. It’s a small community. I was on Spring Break when I heard about it. I reached out to Ray via phone. We talked a little bit. I ended up sending my portfolio in and applying.”
It’s a homecoming for the 1993 alumnus and 45-year-old.
“Perry is home,” Litherland said. “It’s a good opportunity. I know a lot of people there. It’s a community and a school that has given me so much of my life that I’m glad to be back. Hopefully, I can give back to them.”
That starts Tuesday when he meets with players.
“This is really the first varsity head coach that I’ve hired that is high-profile,” James said. “Jeff brought in a lot of qualities on both sides of the table. He took a really good Forest Park team and won with them several years.”
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