A South Oldham High School graduate going to coach at North Oldham? Yeah, Joe Gamsky admits he’s getting some grief from his old high school buddies these days.
“I’m getting a lot of positive feedback … but there are a few who are joking with me and calling me a traitor,” Gamsky said. “It’s all in good nature.”
North Oldham announced Wednesday that the 27-year-old Gamsky has been named the school’s new head football coach. He replaces Billy Martin, who stepped down in April after compiling a 68-49 record in 10 seasons.
Gamsky is a 2007 graduate of South Oldham, where he played football and basketball. He originally went to college at Morehead State before transferring to Murray State, where he played football for four years and earned a scholarship after joining the program as a walk-on.
Gamsky graduated from Murray State in 2012 and spent the past four football seasons (2012-15) as the defensive line coach at South Oldham, where he also teaches special education. He will join the North Oldham staff during the next school year.
North Oldham reached the Class 4-A state semifinals in 2014 before faltering to a 3-7 record last season.
“I saw the guys lifting weights yesterday and the excitement and energy they already have,” Gamsky said. “I don’t think it’s going to take much to get them going. Our goals will be the same year in and year out – win the county championship, win the district championship and win the state championship. If you do those first two, it will set you up to accomplish that last one.”