The once-delayed search for a new Petersburg High School football coach has come to an end.

But apparently one unsuccessful applicant isn't too happy with the outcome.

The Grant County Board of Education, Tuesday, voted 5-0 in favor of hiring Gerald Isaacs as the new head coach, replacing Terry Lahman. Lahman resigned after last season. Isaacs was also hired as a special education teacher at Maysville Elementary School.

Isaacs' name was first floated for the coaching position at the BOE's April 15 meeting. However, at that time, BOE members asked for a couple more weeks to think about the recommendation.

The delay didn't appear to hurt Isaacs' chances, as last week's hiring vote came with only minimal discussion. This was despite an appearance by another candidate for the job, PHS graduate Winston Redman.

In comments to the BOE prior to their vote, Redman criticized the hiring process and accused the system of overlooking his own credentials, both as a retired serviceman and active assistant coach.

Redman served 21 years in the Army after a three-sport career at PHS and attending Norfolk State University.

Since retiring in 2004, Redman has twice applied for the PHS coaching job, as well as once seeking the junior high grid position.

In the case of the junior high job, Redman said he fell victim to what appears to be an unwritten policy which favors previous years' assistants over newcomers. He said attempts to obtain a written copy of such a policy proved unsuccessful.

Unable to obtain a position with the PHS staff in 2004, Redman followed up his Army retirement by serving as a volunteer coach at both Keyser and Southern high schools.

And that brought Redman up to 2008 and the recent hunt for a new coach.

Redman told the BOE he applied for the job in good faith, believing his Army background and willingness to help out at KHS and SHS would carry some weight in the hiring process.

"I was a coach and a leader of men," he explained. "I went away, made something of myself and came back home again. My record speaks for itself."

Redman told the BOE the interview committee ranked him number four among the applicants. Isaacs was number one, followed by a Moorefield High School coaching staff member.

Reportedly, the number three candidate was a nonschool board employee with junior high and freshman team coaching experience.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marsha Carr-Lambert twice reminded Redman not to mention specific names during his comments.

Redman hastened to say none of his complaints should reflect on Isaacs' character or potential coaching ability.

"I just wanted to make a point," Redman said. "I have been a head coach - militarily and on the playing field."

Redman said whomever is selected as coach will be taking over a program which is using some of the same practice equipment he used as a PHS player.

"It is going to take compassion to build a program," he said.

Additionally, Redman faulted the system for favoritism, saying Isaacs had been taken to dinner by personnel director Dennis Albright. He said other applicants didn't get the same perferred treatment.

"We hired the guy we took out to dinner," Redman said.

Redman, who is black, has said he fears minorities don't get a fair shake when it comes to finding jobs with the school system. He said a school system official once told him the community "is not ready for me," a comment he feels is racially based.

Following Redman's departure, BOE member Kirk Wilson asked Albright, plus members of the coach search committee, a series of questions. Committee members were Mike Feaster, Kirk George, Mick Cooper and Garry Moore. It was reported the committee received 15 applicants, scheduled 11 interviews and eventually met with nine candidates. The eventual rankings were approved on a unanimous vote.

"I'd say the process worked," Wilson said.