Published: May 15, 2008 01:14 am            

Breeden hired to coach in Fayette

Former Blazer coach to lead Tates Creek

LEXINGTON — Wayne Breeden, who led Ashland to a runner-up finish in the 1996 Sweet Sixteen and has made four trips to the state tournament in seven years as a head coach, was introduced as the new boys’ basketball coach at Tates Creek on Tuesday.

Breeden took Ashland to the Sweet Sixteen twice, in 1993 and ’96 when the Tomcats reached the finals for the first time since 1962. Paintsville defeated Ashland in the championship game.

More recently, he led Owensboro to back-to-back appearances in the state tournament.

Tates Creek has been to the state tournament only once in its 42-year history but Breeden told the Herald-Leader he plans on changing that statistic.

“We’re going to produce winners on the court and off the court,” he told the newspaper. “We want to go back to Rupp Arena not only as a spectator. We want to go back there as a participant.”

Tates Creek competes in the 11th Region, arguably the toughest in Kentucky.

“If we can contend in the 11th Region, we can contend in the state,” Breeden said.

Breeden spent five years at Ashland from 1993 to 1997 before becoming an assistant at Morehead State under Kyle Macy from 1998 to 2006.

Breeden’s overall high school record is 170-60, including 123-41 at Ashland.

Breeden, 46, is a native of Mount Washington in Bullitt County. He and his wife, Patti, have a daughter, Jillian.

        

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