Noel Rash has announced his resignation from the Conner football program after guiding the Cougars through one of the most difficult seasons in school history.
Rash stepped in last summer under tragic circumstances, following the sudden passing of longtime head coach Dave Trosper in June. A close friend of Trosper’s, Rash felt compelled to provide stability and support for a grieving program, choosing to come out of retirement to help the Cougars navigate an unexpected and emotional transition.
With only about a month to prepare the team for the 2025 season, Rash accepted the role on short notice, focused on honoring Trosper’s legacy and keeping the program grounded. The Cougars opened 1–5 but rallied behind Rash’s leadership, winning three of their final four regular-season games before falling to Scott County in the first round of the playoffs.
“His willingness to guide the team through the difficult transition demonstrated exceptional character and compassion,” Conner Athletic Director Jim Hicks said in a press release. “Conner High School acknowledges and deeply appreciates the stability, professionalism and heart he brought to the program when it was needed most.”
Rash had retired from Beechwood in 2023 after a celebrated 17-year run that included 200 wins and eight state championships. In his lone season at Conner, the Cougars averaged 23.3 points per game, showing explosive potential in their passing attack in their four victories with a 47-point scoring average. Defensively, the team struggled at times, allowing 41.8 points per game in its seven losses.
The Cougars will graduate 16 seniors, including All-Area selections Shepherd Dozier, Aydin Depenbrock and Travis Keen. Quarterback Grayson Montgomery was named an NKFCA Top 28 player after throwing for 2,065 yards and 22 touchdowns. Dozier finished with 46 catches for 675 yards and 10 touchdowns; Depenbrock added 43 receptions for 595 yards and six scores. Keen helped anchor the defense with 57 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks.
Rash leaves Conner after offering steadiness, compassion and leadership at a time when the program needed all three most.
Conner is now accepting applications for the position. Interested candidates should submit their application through: https://www.applitrack.com/booneky/onlineapp/.
For additional questions or more information, reach out to Athletic Director Jim Hicks at 859-334-4400 or james/hicks@boone.kyschools.us.