Mason County's second coaching hire in the summer of 1975 was a turning point for Royals basketball. After Pete Gill resigned just two months after accepting the coaching job, Mason County turned to former University of Kentucky basketball and baseball player Allen Feldhaus.Feldhaus was a basketball, baseball and football star at Boone County High School. He played for Coach Adolph Rupp at UK. After playing minor league baseball in the Washington Senators' farm system, Feldhaus began his coaching career at Russell County. He was out of coaching and working in Frankfort when he accepted the Mason County job. Feldhaus brought discipline and a tough, man-to-man defensive philosophy to the Royals. He guided Mason County to its long-awaited first trip to the state tournament in 1981. The Royals were the state runners-up in 1981. Mason County had an undefeated regular season the next year, finishing with a 31-1 record. The only loss was in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament. Mason County also won 10th Region titles in 1985 and 1987 under Feldhaus. His Mason County teams won nine district championships. Feldhaus coached his three sons- Allen Jr., Willie and Deron- at Mason County. He was the coach of the Kentucky All-Stars in 1982. Feldhaus was twice the Courier-Journal Kentucky Coach of the Year and won the Kentucky Post Coach of the Year award two times. He picked up his 500th career win in 1990. Feldhaus was also the baseball coach and athletic director at Mason County. He retired in 1991. In 16 seasons at Mason County, Feldhaus had a record of 325-136. He is the all-time winningest coach at Mason County.
(Photo from a Mason County yearbook)
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