Out of coaching since 2012, Scott Carmony said he told everyone he knew he wouldn’t get back into it.
“Apparently I was wrong,” he said with a laugh.
Carmony on Tuesday was named the new head football coach at Manual High School, taking over one of the city’s top programs.
Carmony replaces Oliver Lucas, who stepped down after posting a 45-25 record in six seasons.
“Coach Carmony has … the reputation in our community as a builder and sustainer of championship-level football programs,” Manual athletic director David Zuberer said in a news release.
Carmony last coached at Butler from 2008-12, posting a 32-27 record. When Carmony took over, Butler had lost 15 straight games and the streak hit 23 during his first season. By 2011, the Bears were 11-3 and reached the Class 6-A semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Trinity.
Since leaving Butler, Carmony has been working through the principal-certification program at Asbury University.
“I had a great time and a great experience at Asbury,” Carmony said. “One thing led to another, and here I am back into coaching.”
Carmony is no stranger to Manual, having served as an assistant coach there from 1997-98. Jerry Mayes, now the principal at Manual, was the Crimsons’ head coach at the time.
“This was the one and only job I looked at and applied for,” Carmony said. “I knew about Manual and know that Manual is a special place. I know what Jerry Mayes stands for and what he’s about, and I know what Manual stands for and what it’s all about. I’m all in with both of those things.”
After leaving Manual, Carmony was the head coach at Butler from 1999-2001, an assistant at Tates Creek from 2002-04 and the head coach at Jeffersontown from 2005-07 before returning to Butler.
Carmony inherits a Manual program that finished 9-3 this season, falling to eventual champion Male 36-0 in the second round of the Class 6-A playoffs.
“We’re grinders, and we’re going to put our noses down and get to work and play a physical brand of football,” Carmony said.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.