John Wheat has stepped down after three seasons as coach of the Middlesboro boys basketball team.
Wheat’s teams posted a combined record of 27-63 record with three first-round exits in the 52nd District Tournament.
The Jackets suffered a blow just before the 2025 season started when four players, including three starters, transferred. Middlesboro finished with an 8-21 record.
“I appreciate (Middlesboro Superintendent) Mr. Waylon Allen and (Middlesboro Principal) Mr. Jesse Allen for believing in me and giving me a chance to try to turn this program around, but it just wasn’t the right time,” Wheat said. “I’d also like to thank coach Lewis Morris and coach Larry French taking the time each day to check on me to see if there was anything that they could help with to try to make the program better.”
Wheat’s coaching tenure coincided with some of the strongest 52nd District teams in history. Harlan County and Harlan were ranked as the top teams in the RPI system in 2023, winning a combined 51 games. Harlan County won the region and finished as state runner-up in 2024. Harlan County and Bell County were ranked as two of the top three teams in the region this past season, winning a combined 51 games.
Wheat had previously coached at Pulaski County, Campbellsville and Bardstown.