Harden comes from Williamstown, Mumphrey has been with Trimble Co three seasons

Harden, who most recently coached at North Central Kentucky Conference rival Williamstown, was announced as the new coach on Thursday, replacing the retired Doug Oak.

“I can’t wait to meet the players at Carroll County High School,” Harden said. “Basketball has been good to me. It’s a great game that taught me a lot about myself and a lot about life. I want to thank (principal) Dr. (Natalie) Brown, (athletic director) Mr. (Beau) Arney and everyone on the hiring committee for giving me this chance. It was a first-class process, and I am grateful to the school and the community for giving me the opportunity to coach these young men.”

Harden was a standout player at Valparaiso High School where he averaged 27.6 points per game his senior season and was named 1982 Indiana Mr. Basketball. He was also a Parade All-American, a McDonald’s All-American, and a Scholastic Coach All-American.

He eschewed offers from colleges in his home state and headed to Kentucky where he was a three-year starter at point guard and set the Kentucky school record for assists in a season with 232. He was a Third-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers but never played in the NBA.

After his playing career ended, he spent a year as an assistant coach at Kentucky under coach Eddie Sutton and coached AAU basketball in Indiana. In 2012, he was hired to rebuild the program at Williamstown and went 32-79 in four seasons at the helm. He was the 2017 NCKC and Eighth Region Coach of the Year.

“We are beyond excited to have Coach Harden joining us,” Arney said. “In addition to his incredible career as a basketball player, which includes playing point guard at the University of Kentucky, Coach Harden turned Williamstown into a force to be reckoned with during his four years there. We are very lucky to have him, and I am excited about the future of our program here.”

Harden replaces veteran coach Doug Oak, who agreed to come out of the retirement this past season to coach the Panthers after coach Jonathan Moore left to run the program at Franklin County early in the fall.

Oak, who is also the assistant superintendent of Carroll County Schools, said at the time of his hiring that he planned on filling in for just one year.

Harden will officially take over as coach later this spring.

He plans on meeting with the team in two weeks, after spring break.

Trimble’s Co Boys Basketball Coach Marcus Mumphrey steps down

Marcus Mumphrey has stepped down as head boys basketball coach at Trimble County after three seasons.

The Raiders went 25-57 under Mumphrey, a former standout player at Carroll County.

Their best season was in 2020-21 when Trimble was 11-13 and reached the 31st District semifinals.

Trimble has posted the job and is currently taking applications.