EDIT #2: The article has been changed to reflect the rescheduled date of February 13, 2026, due to expected cold temperatures, as well as unknown status(at this time) of that night’s games.
EDIT UPDATE: This article was edited to add Nikki Long’s name to the 2000-2001 girls team. The omission was unintentional.
By Jonathan L. Smith
(Full disclosure. The author is a member of the new Hall of Fame committee)
After nearly fifty-two school seasons of athletic competition, Lincoln County High School will induct its first Athletic Hall of Fame class on the rescheduled date of February 13, 2026. The five inductees are (1) the 1974-75 boys basketball team, (2) the 1990 football team, (3) the 2000-01 girls basketball team, (4) 1993 Mr. Football Jeremy Simpson, and (5) current head boys basketball coach Jeff Jackson.
There will be a reception for the teams, individuals, and their families at 5:00 PM on February 13, 2026, at the LCHS library. The cheerleaders who supported the three teams being inducted are also invited to the reception. The ceremony will take place between the girl and boy games during that night’s doubleheader which starts at 6:00 PM.
There have been some great teams and student-athletes at LCHS and no one should be offended by not being included in this first class, which represents a very few unique achievements. The goal of the Hall of Fame is to be inclusive and recognize all deserving individuals and teams demonstrating the excellence that has been shown on and off the courts and fields at LCHS. This is just the beginning of the teams and individuals to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as the next class to be chosen will be recognized during the upcoming football season, and is anticipated to include a much larger list of inductees. Complete details, including the nomination process, will be publicized as the time gets closer.
LCHS Principal Matthew Willoughby, with approval of the school’s site based council, set in motion the creation of the Athletic Hall of Fame in late 2025. A native of Casey County, Willoughby said, “Coming from the outside, I see Lincoln County High School as having such a rich tradition of athletic success that I thought it should be recognized and preserved with a Hall of Fame.”
With input from others, he selected seven LCHS alumni who have been student-athletes, coaches, teachers, administrators, and/or media members who have followed the school’s athletic programs from the beginning through the present, including: Martha Dee Bastin (1981), Mack Dunn (1980), Billy Harris (1986), Susan Goodwin Harris (1986), Brad Petrey (1995), Steve Ralson (1976), and Jon Logan Smith (1983).
Purpose and Criteria
The LCHS Athletic Hall of Fame was organized to preserve the accomplishments, traditions, and successes of the teams and individuals associated with Lincoln County High School’s team and individual sports.
Individuals may be included in three categories: (1) player, (2) coach, or (3) contributor. An entire team that has distinguished itself above and beyond normal standards may be selected for induction, which will not mean that the individual members are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Individuals from Hall of Fame teams may be inducted in their individual capacities.
Candidates may be nominated by anyone, including the Candidate themselves. All nominations must be in writing and contain all relevant information that justifies the nomination and the requested inductions. Individual students must have graduated from Lincoln County High School at least ten (10) years prior to induction. For a team to be inducted, the accomplishments must have been at least ten (10) years prior to induction. The criteria and nomination forms will be posted on LCHS school website.
The Inductees
This first class of inductees was chosen from a more narrow and exclusive viewpoint than future classes will be selected. They were the easy choices, reflecting a composite uniqueness that underscores the creation and induction of the first members of the newly formed hall of fame. They include the school’s first boys and girls basketball teams to play in the Sweet Sixteen, the first football team to play in a state championship game, the school’s Mr. Football winner, and the school’s winningest and longest-tenured coach.
1974-75 Boys Basketball Team
Coaches: Roger Meek, Johnny Wilder, Mike Candler.
Players: Roger Baker, Dan Barnett, Toney Dollins, Teddy Eddrington, Curt Folger, Robert Johnson, Brad Lawless, Ronnie Lowe, Don Meade, Steve Ralston, Garcia Simpson, Vance True. Managers: Joe Cain, Clark Benton, Jimmy Rousey.
Athletic Director, Shannon Hatter. Principal, Jack Portwood. Superintendent, Jack Denny Johnson.
This team is known as the “Charter Team” as being the first boys basketball team in school history. They came together from five different high schools (Crab Orchard, Hustonville, McKinney, Memorial, and Stanford) to form a new team at a brand-new high school. They won 26 games, won the 46th District tournament, won the 12th Region tournament, and won an opening round game in the Sweet Sixteen before falling in the quarterfinals.
Probably most importantly, they became the catalyst for the county to pull together behind the new consolidated school and let go of past intra-county rivalries. Head coach Roger Meek was previously the head coach at Memorial and assistant coaches Johnny Wilder and Mike Candler were the head coaches at Hustonville and McKinney, respectively. They were a true amalgamation of the previous school teams.
1990 Football Team
Coaches: Larry Phillips, Bill Tharp, Tim Estes, Steve Sullivan, Scott Montgomery, Darren Yaden.
Players: Anthony Barfield, Lee Bishop, Eric Bottoms, Regan Bowen, Randy Boyd, Will Burton, Tommy Carpenter, Todd Coulter, Brian Crawford, James Cunnagin, Brett Curlis, Curt Demrow, Jim Disney, Jeremy Downey, Ronnie Duncan, Greg Frederick, Kalem Grasham, Tripp Harris, Joey Henderson, Chris Hendrickson, Adam Hopkins, Kevin Hudson, Tony Irvin, Brian Jenkins, Daniel Johnson, Jimmy Jones, Brian Kelly, Eugene Lucas, Jaeson May, Shawn McGuffey, Donnie McKinney, Doug McQueen, Dusty Miracle, Vance Mitchell, Steve Mullins, Ricky New, Rodney New, Burnell Newcomb, Scott Newcomb, Steve Oaks, Warren Patterson, Jeff Payton, Sean Penman, Keith Phillips, Kevin Sheron, Neil Silverthorne, Jeremy Simpson, Jason Sims, Chase Smith, J Smith, Brian Turpin, Chris Vanhook, Chuck Vanhook, Johnny Vanhook, Jermaine Wilkinson, Donnie Yaden.
Athletic Director, Harold McClaren. Principal, Mike Candler. Superintendent, Bruce Johnson.
The 1990 football team won 13 games and was the first team in school history to play in a state football championship game. They had wins over Boyle County, Greenwood, Pulaski County, Franklin County, South Oldham, Western Hills, Estill County, Scott County, Woodford County, Jessamine County, Nelson County, Meade County, and Owensboro. They had a regular season loss to Danville and the championship game loss to Ashland. They were undefeated 7-0 in district. In the state championship game, Chris Vanhook scored on a one-yard run and Chris Hendrickson returned a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown. The freshmen on this team also played in the 1993 state championship game.
2000-2001 Girls Basketball Team
Coaches: John Kolasa, Lanny Hubbard, Rebecca Shearer.
Players: Lori Adams, Stacia Alford, Rachel Hoskins, Stephanie Jasper, Nikki Long, Kristi Manning, Rebecca May, LeeAnn Mitchell, Cassandra Peek, Keisha Smith, Natalie Stewart, Laura Williams, Jerran Wilkinson.
Athletic Director, Tim Whitis. Principal, Ann Upchurch. Superintendent, Danny Godbey.
This team was the first LCHS girls’ team to play in the state tournament. They won 27 games, won the 45th District tournament, won the 12th Region tournament and played in the Sweet Sixteen where they had a first round loss. Cassandra Peek and Rebecca May led the Lady Patriots in scoring in the state tournament with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
1993 Mr. Football Jeremy Simpson
LCHS Running Back Jeremy Simpson rushed for 3,044 yards and 46 touchdowns during his senior season in 1993.
On December 23, 1993, the Associated Press named him as the 1993 Mr. Football award winner. The award was created in 1986 to recognize the top high school football player, regardless of class, in the state of Kentucky.
That year, he also won the Louisville Quarterback Club’s Paul Hornung award, given to the outstanding senior high school football player. He was also given the Roy Kidd Award by the Kentucky News Network for being the state’s best player, was named 1st team All-State by the Courier Journal and the Associated Press, was named to the Advocate-Messenger all-area team, and was picked for the all-district team. He was also chosen for the Dixie Dozen by the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, a compilation of the best high school players in the southern states. He was on the list with Peyton Manning and Josh Booty, among others.
Boys Basketball Coach Jeff Jackson 2003-Present
Jeff Jackson is one of the best coaches in the history of Kentucky high school basketball. His team at University Heights Academy won the 1992 state championship and his teams have won over 700 games, with over 400 of those wins coming at LCHS (and still counting).
Now in his 23rd season as the head coach at LCHS, coach Jackson is the winningest and longest-tenured head coach in school history. His LCHS teams have won twelve 45th District tournaments, four 12th Region tournaments, and have appeared in the Sweet Sixteen four times, reaching the Final Four in 2022. He has demonstrated excellence while providing LCHS and its boys basketball team with continuity, consistency, and a winning culture. His teams play with pride, dignity, and a high level of sportsmanship.
