Scot MacAllister, who was most recently the girl’s basketball coach at Logan County High School, has been announced as the new head coach of the Russell County High School Lady Laker basketball program, according to Athletic Director Willie Feldhaus.

Feldhaus said the program was lucky to get MacAllister and said he came with high praise and raving reviews and seemed like the perfect fit to take over the local girl’s basketball program, which has seen success in recent years under former coach Craig Pippen, who led the Lady Lakers to four straight 16th District championships and several 4th Region Tournament appearances.

MacAllister, originally a native of Birmingham, Alabama, stays in the 4th region by moving over to coach the Lady Lakers and called the opportunity an exciting and challenging venture for he and his family.

“It is just my wife, Lori, and I now,” MacAllister said, who added they would also be bringing their dogs with them as well. The couple has one son, Tim, who coaches basketball in the college ranks in Georgia as well as two daughters, Kayla and Shannon, who attend Murray State University.

He said he spent several days in Russell County recently, meeting with the middle school players and coaches as well as the varsity, junior varsity and freshman squads.

Prior to his time at Logan County, MacAllister said he also had some coaching success in California, where he spent 18 years total after moving from Alabama, including finishing his high school career there.

Following a stint in the military, MacAllister found his way back to California to finish his college degree and then got into coaching.

“We had numerous Sweet 16 appearances, being in the final four in the state and getting to play constantly in the state playoffs,” he said of his time out west. “It is different out in California because of division play and the class system.”

He said he even coached a freshman team to a state title out there and also coached junior college women and junior college military men for several years.

“I’ve coached everything all the way down to the elementary level,” he said. “I knew in sixth grade that I wanted to be a coach. My coach in Birmingham, Alabama got me off the playground and out of the principal’s office for too many stupid things and said come to the gym. He kind of watched out for me and was a role model, really.”

He said he first got the opportunity to come to Kentucky when Logan County offered him the job eight years ago and he couldn’t be more grateful for that opportunity.

“My wife has relatives in Indiana and I’ve got relatives in Alabama and we just wanted to get away from the crime and stuff like that,” he said. “I’m eternally grateful for that call from Logan County.”

Coaching Logan County in the western part of the state, MacAllister said he noticed the success Pippen was having at Russell County, noting that they were 4th region foes.

He commended Pippen and his efforts to build the program into a consistent winner over the past several years.

“He’s a great guy,” MacAllister said of Pippen. He said he also knows Pippen because of their time in the same region, attending coaching clinics and trading scouting reports.

MacAllister said he also knows a bit about his returning players because of region and AAU play and was excited about the upcoming season. He likened his style of play to that of Pippen’s.

“We both want to get the ball up and down the floor quickly,” he said. “Let’s be honest, it is better to score off the break than it is to let the defense get set. I like kids that play hard nosed defense, also…we have very similar philosophies so it really is going to be a continuation of what you’ve already seen.”

He said he was impressed with the basketball IQ of the returning players, which will also make his team and game plan run more efficiently.

MacAllister said he does feel some pressure to continue reeling in those 16th district championships and getting the Lady Lakers to the regional tournament each season.

“I think that Craig and his staff have done such a great job building a base,” he said, saying he was thrilled with the youth league and middle school feeder programs. “I think the program speaks for itself and what a wonderful opportunity to continue that foundation of success. I’m just hoping I don’t come in and screw it up.”

The MacAllisters are currently home shopping in the area and are looking forward to being a part of the Laker family and the community as a whole.

“My wife and I are extremely excited about the opportunity to be here,” he said. He said he had spoken with numerous folks in the county, some even fresh out of high school, and asked them if Russell County was a great place to live with them not knowing who he was. “What he got from those who were 19 to those who were 60 was that ‘it’s great. We love it here, you should move here’ and when I asked about the school system even the young kids said ‘I loved it,’…when you hear that from kids it says a lot for your school district and the community.

It is a time of change for the Lady Laker basketball program and the excitement begins in just a few short months.