Cooksey joins, adds experience to Red Devils’ staff

WESTWOOD, Ky. — The boys vying to play basketball at Russell will only have to bring their talent and a willingness to learn. 

What will await them is a coaching staff well versed with experience both at the high school and Division I college levels.

Red Devils head coach Tom Barrick is excited for the season, more so now that he added Brett Cooksey to his staff for the upcoming year.

Cooksey, the head coach at Fairview last season, stepped down on Tuesday to join Barrick’s staff at Russell but to also become the health and physical education teacher in the school district. 

It’s part of his career path to become a principal.

“I’m going for my Rank 1 Principalship,” said Cooksey. “It’s 30 hours on top of my master’s. It’s basically a second masters but in administration. 

“I’ve just finished my masters up a few years a ago but as a teacher you’re a life-long learner. You keep improving and keep learning.”

At Russell, Cooksey joins his brother Derek and Rick Griffith as an assistant under Barrick. All three coached at Fairview at one point with Griffith adding in experience as an assistant for Kentucky’s women’s basketball program.

“Coach has a lot of years experience in,” Cooksey said. “He coaches like my father did. He’s a good defensive coach and good motivator. I played in the 63rd so I’m used to a lot of those teams and it will be good to go up against those teams in the district.”

Barrick said between himself and his staff the boys’ basketball team will have 50 years of coaching experience. Barrick has only one year at Russell but previously coached for 19 years at Wheelersburg and at Eastern Pike in Ohio.

“There’s seven kids between us that went on to Division I schools,” Barrick said. 

Brett Cooksey had been at Fairview for nine years working as an assistant but was head coach for the Eagles last year, following in his brother’s and father’s footsteps.

“I’ve been at Fairview my whole life,” said Cooksey. “I was at Greenup as a freshman, then Fairview, went to Morehead, then been at Fairview the last nine years. 

“I’ve always been around it. I’ve always been around my father and brother.”

Cooksey additionally served as head football coach at Fairview in 2018 but stepped down to return as an assistant coach under Daniel Armstrong in 2019. 

While being a head coach brought challenges at Fairview, Cooksey said he enjoys being an assistant coach.

“I never say ‘I don’t want to be a head coach again.’ I enjoy the assistant role,” Cooksey said. “I just think that where I’ve been a head coach I’ve been in his shoes and I can help in some ways.

“Whatever job you have will take your time. You don’t just do it half-way.”

It’s that attitude that gives Barrick much hope for the future with Russell.

“I’m tickled to death to have Brett come over to Russell,” Barrick said.  “He’s a young, energetic coach who will be coming on to our staff. He brings experience as a head coach and we’re elated to have him come over as a teacher and as a coach.”

Cooksey, 34, will bring new techniques and a connection to Derek Cooksey that will add camaraderie among the coaching staff, Barrick said. Additionally, the Red Devils’ players will have an experienced head coach leading every drill they practice.

Meanwhile, Brett Cooksey will continue pursuing a future as a principal, a life-long dream inspired by the teachers and administrators he had growing up.

Cooksey attended Greenup County as a freshman but moved to Westwood and began attending Fairview a year later. After graduating, Cooksey went to Morehead State and upon earning his degree, joined his father, Rex, and his brother at Fairview. 

Cooksey and the Eagles turned in an 8-18 record. 

In his one season as head football coach at Fairview, Cooksey’s Eagles went 0-10 and scored just 34 points in 2018.

“I’ve had great students and players,” Cooksey said. “I’ll always be proud of their hard work and enthusiasm.”

Russell, meanwhile, finished 12-16 in 2019-2020 but earned a trip to the regional tournament where it fell to Ashland Paul Blazer’s undefeated Tomcats team on the Morehead State campus.

Barrick said he’s eager to meet his staff in person, whenever that might be. The head coach of a talented and experienced staff said he’s excited to hear any announcement from KHSAA that will allow him and the Red Devils to begin summer workouts.