Somerset — Just weeks following Shawn Thacker’s departure from Somerset High School to Rowan County High School, former Rowan County head basketball coach Don Daniel is headed to Somerset to coach the Briar Jumper boys basketball team.

“I don’t look at it as a switching of coaches — I look at it as a great opportunity afforded to me to be able to come to Somerset to coach,” Daniel said. “I coached at Rowan County for 13 years and I felt like it was time for a change. I am so impressed the Somerset Independent School System. I was impressed with Wilson Sears, Jeff Perkins and Bob Tucker. They are all class acts and they had a lot to do with me coming to Somerset High School.”

In Daniel’s 13 seasons at Rowan County, he compiled a 218-158 record, won eight district titles, the 2001 16th Region runner-up title and a 16th Region title in 2005. The Rowan County Vikings also advanced to the 16th Region Tournament in each of Daniel’s 13 seasons.

While Daniel helped build a winning tradition at Rowan County, he is even more excited about stepping into an already tradition-rich program at Somerset.

“One of the most exciting things about coming to Somerset high School is their rich tradition of basketball over the years,” Daniel said. “There has been a number of great high school coaches that have left their mark on the program, all the way from Doug Hines to Kirk Chiles to Shawn Thacker, who left this program with a solid foundation to build from.”

Daniel explained, as a coach, he will be focused a developing individual players as the season progresses rather than focusing on a certain game plan.

“I have always worked on developing players game-by-game and day-by-day, rather than developing certain plays,” Daniel explained. “Defensively, we will play a lot of man-to-man. I like to run a motion offense and I believe in a solid passing game.”

Daniel is already familiar with his new county rivalries and he explained, as a high basketball player himself, he knows what it is like playing the small school role against two larger schools in the same area.

“Growing up in Terre Haute, Ind., there were the two large schools, South Terre Haute and North Terre Haute, and there was the smaller West Vigo, where I played my high school basketball,” Daniel said. “And just like Somerset, we were blessed with an abundance of tradition and a phenomenal following.”

Daniel is also aware of the “so called” All-A state tourney letdown that always seems to plaque teams after small school classic prior to preparation for the post-season.

“I have never coached in the All “A”, but I have scouted teams in the All “A” state tourney and I have seen a letdown from their play in the All “A” up to the time we played them late in the season,” Daniel said. “I think the letdown is more emotional than physical.”

“I am not real sure there is an easy fix, but it is something we have to address,” Daniel said. “To me the most important goal for my teams will the KHSAA 12th Region Tournament. Winning that tournament will be a goal of my teams every season.”

Daniel’s, and Thacker’s, departures were all made possible by Daniel’s resignation from the Rowan County boys basketball coaching position following Daniel’s five-game suspension after an incident with his son at one of his practices back in late February.

“Coach Daniel was cleared of any wrongdoing in that matter,” Somerset Athletic Director Bob Tucker said. “Coach Daniel is a great coach who is very intense and has a reputation of really going after his opponents with a strong team defense. We really feel good about Coach Daniel and this coaching hire.”

Daniel addressed the incident that ultimately led to his resignation as the Vikings’ boys basketball coach this past winter.

“It was a situation between a father and son, and I reacted as a father rather than a coach,” Daniel said. “The line is very thin between those two distinctions. However, I was cleared of all allegations and I hope that one incident doesn’t put a taint of my entire career.”

Besides, 13 successful seasons at Rowan County, Daniel was an assistant coach at Hart County for nine years and was an assistant coach at Boyd County.

Daniel and his wife Mindy have two children, Matthew and Derek.

There will be a ‘meet-and-greet’ with Coach Daniel on Wednesday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Somerset High School.