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Best assistant coaches in the state for high school swimming?
Difficult to argue that statement.
During Parkersburg South's run to a second consecutive state title in boys swimming, without fail head coach Ryan Radcliff made sure to mention the impact of his assistants Jim Pursley and Don Bailey. A bit of bias, maybe. Spot on, possibly.
With a combined 28 years of service to Patriots swimming, Pursley and Bailey have seen the program blossom with three boys state titles in the past seven years and a girls field on the rise.
And to think it all began with second-hand equipment - starting blocks, timing system, etc. - that Steve Lutz managed to string together as South's first head coach 21 years ago.
"When I came here to help Steve, it was to help kids learn how to swim to get better," said Pursley, who has given the past 19 years of his time to coaching technique for South swimmers. "Since the 2016 state championship, the boys team started growing even better. We could see it coming in 2012. It just took time.
"In 2016, everything came together. Last year, I felt really good about the team after OVACs. I thought we had a special thing going. Once we beat Dover at OVAC this year, I said to Ryan, let's run the table."
All three current members of the coaching staff describe the chemistry of the entire South program during the postgame interviews. At the same time, these same three individuals have a connection as one staff that has its own brand of chemistry.
Bailey's strength is finding the talent and getting them into the pool. A master of public relations if you will, but without the official title.
To name a few pieces new to the sport, this year's state championship included Colton Floyd, a first-time swimmer who competed on a pair of A Final relays, and Connor Roberts making his mark once again in only his second season of competitive swimming.
Despite a late arrival because of his starting role on the football team which advanced to the state championship game, the presence of Maddox Rader was also felt.
Bailey is the numbers' cruncher, and Radcliff gave his assistant major kudos when it came time to decide on a lineup for the 200 medley relay to kick off the first finals event of the two-day event.
"Ryan, Jim and I all work together great and we have the same mentality - and we try to pass that mentality onto the kids," Bailey said. "Ryan talked about us being mentors for him, but Jim is a mentor for me. He is great with the kids. I learn a lot from him."
Thanks to this year's boys team becoming the most decorated in school history, South now ranks alone in third place with three state titles behind George Washington and Fairmont State, who share the lead with 10 championships apiece.
Radcliff has brought new ideas, new approaches into the program. He is a young soul. According to Bailey, it's Radcliff's youth and energy, and knowing how to run a practice that he admires.
"Ryan is the tablesetter on our staff - Steve and I took the team to a new level and Ryan swam for us for two years before swimming for Fairmont State," Pursley said. "Ryan studied under us and became a coach. He has taken it to a new level."
Recently, South's girls are beginning to show signs of emerging. They are still in the early stages, but after their impact at this year's state meet with seven representatives who all return next season, the coaching staff will have that much more on their plate to attend to during 2023-24 season.
"We have those girls (from the state meet) coming back and a couple of good freshmen - this is how you build it," said Pursley, who continues to have the opportunity to coach his granddaughter, Chesney Douglas. "The great thing about the girls is they have great chemistry, just like the boys have great chemistry."
Radcliff, Pursley and Bailey have already turned their attention to next season. A majority of the 10 members who represented the Patriots' boys team at state return. They are aware nothing is a guarantee. The kids must do the work in the offseason.
Schools throughout the state will have South on their radar.
"Winning in 2016 was great because it had never been done, and it was fantastic" Pursley said. "Last year after having six years in between titles, I believed we were going to win and we did. This year, the team was confident enough. Each championship is different. They are all great.
"I remember someone asking (University of Alabama football coach) Nick Saban of all his national championships which one was more special. He replied, 'All of them.' It's been a great season and I am looking forward to next year. We have a lot of kids coming back, and it will be very difficult to win. Every championship has been hard."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com