After much speculation over the past several weeks, the new football coach at Harlan County High School will be named Monday at 5 p.m. The announcement is scheduled at the Village Center Mall, near the entrance to VIP Sports.

"We are excited to be able to name a high-profile coach to lead our Black Bears football team. I know the students, staff and community will be pleased with our coach," said Superintendent Tim Saylor. "I want to encourage everyone to come out and take part in this event as we begin a new era in Harlan County athletics."

After Bell County coach Dudley Hilton turned down the job a couple of weeks ago, recent speculation has centered on Rockcastle County's Tom Larkey, who has built a powerhouse at the Mount Vernon school since his arrival in the mid-1980s. Larkey has reportedly accepted the job, but that won't be confirmed until Monday.

Larkey was an assistant at Cawood High School for two seasons under Jim Cullivan before leaving to take the Rockcastle job.

Harlan County High School will compete in Class 3A the first year to complete the two-year realignment cycle of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and will likely move up to 5A in 2009.

The new HCHS will have a solid group of returning players to work with, led by a loaded backfield that could include Cumberland juniors Nathaniel Gilliam and Lance Simmons, Cawood sophomore T.J. Green, Cumberland sophomore Shequille Clark and Evarts junior Glenn Roberts.

Cumberland's Zach Blanton and Blake Polson, both juniors this year, are the leading candidates at quarterback. Polson can also play receiver, where Simmons could also see action, along with standout Cawood freshman receiver Dylon Smith and Evarts junior tight end Shane Flanary.

Cumberland juniors Cody Ison, Mark Boggs and Brad Sturgill, Cawood junior Royal Bargo, Cawood sophomore James Ball, Evarts juniors Clifton Robbins and Roger McKnight, Evarts sophomores Austin Short and George Shoemaker and Cawood freshmen Alex Haywood and Brian Owens are among the linemen returning who were key players last fall.

Defensive leaders for the Black Bears could include Roberts and Evarts sophomore linebacker Dwight Burgan, Cawood sophomore linebacker Tyler Stewart, Cumberland sophomore linebackers Chris Johnson and Jamille Stewart and Cawood freshman linebacker/end Jordan Calton.

The Black Bears will play much of last year's Cawood schedule in 2008 in the second season of two-year contracts. The Hazard game to open the season is not yet finalized. The schedule will include:

Aug. 29 Hazard

Sept. 5 at Lynn Camp

Sept. 13 at Fleming County

Sept. 19 at Lee, Va.

Sept. 26 Breathitt County

Oct. 3 Open

Oct. 10 at Powell County

Oct. 17 Middlesboro

Oct. 24 Estill County

Oct. 31 Casey County

Nov. 7 at Somerset

Harlan High School's tentative schedule includes:

Aug. 29 at Knott County

Sept. 5 at Lee, Va.

Sept. 12 Open

Sept. 19 at Hazard

Sept. 26 Pineville

Oct. 3 McCreary Central

Oct. 10 Lynn Camp

Oct. 17 Open

Oct. 24 Jenkins

Oct. 31 at Perry Central

Nov. 7 Clay County