By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Danielle Wells, an assistant on the Holmes girls basketball coaching staff last season, has been put in charge of the highly successful Bulldogs program.

Danielle Wells

Wells was hired to replace Greg Ash, who resigned as Holmes head coach after just one season. His team was 9th Region runner-up and finished with a 21-8 record.

The Bulldogs have won between 21 and 30 games each of the last four seasons. All of those teams made it to the 9th Region championship game and two of them won back-to-back regional titles in 2016 and 2017.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead these girls,’’ said Wells, a business teacher at Holmes. “I want to be a positive influence in their lives. I want them to be successful.’’

The new head coach played basketball at Leslie County High School and Alice Lloyd College. She joined the Holmes coaching staff last season when three senior starters led the Bulldogs back to the regional final, where they lost to Ryle.

Kamari Graham is the top returning scorer for Holmes.

“We are pleased to have Danielle Wells assume the leadership role,” said Holmes athletic director Stan Steidel. “She is a hard worker who will take pride in the leading role that a good program must have. Ms. Wells will develop quality basketball players and top-notch students.’’

Wells will be building this year’s team around senior guard Kamari Graham and junior forward Deara Stowers, the top returning players from last season.

“I want to grow the program by reaching out to girls who are younger,’’ said coach Wells, who plans to have varsity team members mentoring players in junior high and elementary school.

“They will be positive role models for the younger kids,” she said.  “When you learn to serve others, you make it more about the team and not one specific player. If we are going to be successful, this is what we have to do.’’

Holmes is one of six 9th Region girls basketball teams that will have a new head coach next season. The others are Dayton, Lloyd, Holy Cross, Newport Central Catholic and Notre Dame.