The KHSAA Dead Period is in full effect, but news still happens. Here are some quick-hitters from around the area.
Simpson Era begins at Holmes
Holmes High School has chosen Kenneth “Kenny” Simpson III to lead its boys basketball program. With Simpson, the Bulldogs bring aboard a coach who already has strong roots within the school system. The announcement of his hiring was made on Wednesday.
“Since 2023, Kenny has served the Covington Independent Public Schools district as both a professional and a coach,” the district said in a statement. “Bringing his extensive playing experience and champion mindset to the sidelines, he is fiercely dedicated to mentoring student-athletes, instilling character, and building a premier athletic program that honors the region’s rich sporting tradition.”
Simpson replaces Sam Elsbernd who put together a 27-31 record in two years. Seven seniors from last season’s 12-17 squad are now graduates but three key players should be back. They include incoming senior MarShon Rhodes and incoming juniors Michael Chames and Derrick Mayes. Chames was third on the Bulldogs in scoring last season with 10.5 points per game and third in rebounding with 4.5. Rhodes was fourth in scoring with 4.5 points. Mayes averaged 4.2 points.
Simpson’s connection to Kentucky basketball runs deep through his own family. He’s the grandson of Kenneth Simpson Sr., a well-known hero. The elder Simpson was a member of the storied 1964 William Grant regional championship basketball team. The group is still remembered for its impact on the community long after the school closed in 1965. It was a public high school for African Americans in Covington. When it closed, many of the students went to Holmes. That legacy of pride and perseverance is something Simpson carries with him as he takes over the Bulldogs.
Before beginning his coaching career, Simpson spent four seasons at Mount St. Joseph University. He competed for the basketball team from 2015-19, contributing to two conference championships. His time with the Lions helped shape the competitive mindset and team‑first approach he now brings to the sidelines.
Simpson’s basketball journey began at North College Hill High School in Ohio. That’s where he emerged as an all‑conference performer and district all‑star. Those accomplishments set the foundation for a career built on leadership, work ethic, and a lifelong dedication to the game. These are qualities Holmes hopes will define the next era of Bulldogs basketball.
Posthumous honor for Dixie legend
Mark Pike, the local legend who became one of the NFL’s most respected special teams players, is among the five inductees selected for the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
The Hall, now in its 24th year, announced its newest class earlier in the year in Lexington, highlighting players and coaches with deep Kentucky ties who left a lasting mark on professional football. Pike, who passed away in 2021 after a courageous battle with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma., will be inducted posthumously today.
A 1983 graduate of Dixie Heights High School, Pike went on to play at Georgia Tech. He was a 1986 NFL draftee by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round, starting a 12-year career defined by durability, toughness and elite special teams play. Pike appeared in 173 games for Buffalo and became the franchise’s all-time leader in special teams tackles with 255 — a total that also ranks second in NFL history.
Pike played a pivotal role on the Bills teams that reached four straight Super Bowls from 1991–94, earning a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable and relentless coverage players. His impact extended beyond statistics. Coaches and teammates routinely pointed to Pike as a tone-setter whose work ethic elevated Buffalo’s special teams units during one of the most successful eras in franchise history.
The Class of 2026 also includes Bilal Powell, Jerry Blanton, Chad Pennington and Ermal Allen. They will be honorees on Friday, June 26 in Lexington. That’s where inductees will receive their Hall of Fame jackets before the Purple Jacket Awards Dinner at the Hilton Lexington Downtown.
The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inception was in 2003. It has raised more than $1 million for youth charities. It continues to celebrate the Commonwealth’s football greats while supporting children and families across Kentucky.
Villa Madonna athletes make commitments
Villa Madonna athletes, left to right: Joe Rice, Alex Chadwick, Sean Nichols, Michael Popham, Kate Schuetter and Macy Gumm. Photo provided | Villa Madonna
Several recent Villa Madonna Academy graduates have made their college decisions official. Basketball player Michael Popham committed to the University of Rio Grande in the NAIA. Popham led the Bearcats with 14.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as a senior. He is one of six recent Villa Madonna grads making college commitments.
The Bearcats’ Joe Rice is heading to Thomas More University to play baseball. Rice was a two-way stud as a senior. He batted .367 with six doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs. He was 8-3 on the mound with two saves and 98 strikeouts in 58 innings. Rice had a super low ERA of 0.36. He allowed just three earned runs and 10 hits all season.
Alex Chadwick is also going to Thomas More, where he will compete in track and cross country. Villa’s Sean Nichols is heading to the University of Alabama wheelchair basketball team. For the girls, Macy Gumm is going to University of Mount Union, where she will play soccer. Kate Schuetter is a Midway University commit for the equestrian team.
