Philip Haywood named CJ Coach of Year

[Watusi]

Philip Haywood has seen most everything in 41 years of coaching, but 2015 certainly will go down as one of his most memorable seasons.

Along with leading the Belfry High School football team to its fifth state championship – and third in a row – Haywood picked up the 400th victory of his career. And now, for the fourth time, he can claim The Courier-Journal’s Kentucky Football Coach of the Year honor.

“One day I’ll look back and say it was a good year and tell the grandkids all about it,” said Haywood, Kentucky’s leader in career victories. “But it’s not something I think about right now. I firmly believe this is not about ‘me’ or ‘you’ but about ‘us.’ We try to live with that and believe that, not just the team and the program but the entire community.”

Haywood received 16 votes in a statewide survey of coaches, with 126 returning ballots. South Warren’s Brandon Smith (14) was the runner-up, followed by Male’s Chris Wolfe (11), Elizabethtown’s Mark Brown (eight) and Hopkinsville’s Mark Clark (five).

Haywood also was named C-J Coach of the Year in 2003, 2011 (tying with Trinity’s Bob Beatty) and 2012. Haywood and Boyle County’s Chuck Smith are the only two coaches to win the honor four times.

 

“It’s a great honor, but I’m kind of dumbfounded about that this year,” Haywood said. “We played well, but there are so many great coaches out there who do such a great job. I’m really pleased, but I’ll pass this off to our coaching staff and players because without them there certainly wouldn’t be this honor. … I have been blessed.”

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[LRCW]

Congrats to Coach Haywood. Well deserved.

[oldrambler]

That's great news and very well deserved. Congrats to Coach Haywood.

[jericho]

Very deserving and a very good person.

[Rambo4343]

Best Coach in the State. Hands Down! Much respect for this guy!

[ATLCat]

Great honor for a great man but even I am a little surprised.

 

Kind of expected Smith at South Warren or Chris Wolfe to run away with this thing.

 

Goes to show the respect Haywood receives from his peers. To beat out the young coach who won a Title so early in his program's history and to beat out the Young Coach who had by far the State's #1 Team and a Top 10 team nationally is no small feat!

[ATLCat]

Coaching for life - Williamson Daily News - williamsondailynews.com

 

You simply have to applaud the man's sense of humility!

 

“It’s always an honor to receive an award like this one. Any time you are given an award where you were nominated by your peers it’s very humbling. There are so many great coaches out there, sometimes if you are fortunate enough to have great players and great staffs then you are blessed to receive awards like this. But, there are a lot of great coaches out there who do a fantastic job who are not as blessed to be surrounded by such a great program and football community. I always think of all the other coaches who are just as deserving as me for the award and that is what really humbles me about receiving this award,” said Haywood.

 

“I’ve never been a big believer in individual awards. That’s what I always tell my players. If you are fortunate enough to be recognized for what you have done then cherish it in knowing that it’s not really just about you. It’s about being a part of something that is bigger than you. With this award I have to take the same attitude, without the players and the staff then this wouldn’t have happened,” said Haywood. He continued by saying, “We have great players, coaches, staff, school support, and community that all comes together to help make this possible. This award can definitely be shared by everyone involved. This program and this community is certainly bigger than any one person.”

 

Haywood has been doing this for a very long time, 41 years, and has picked up wisdom over time that he has compiled into a winning recipe, not just for football but for life. “If you look at your life based on your achievements then I believe you are looking at things the wrong way. The thing to look at is if you’re making a difference; that’s something that is not measurable.” Haywood continued by saying, “If you keep the mindset of thinking, if I can live my life in a way where every day or year of my life I am focused on making a positive impact on someone’s life then that is a much better way to be. If you can help make someone else’s life better because of your actions then there are no time limits. I will continue to coach as long as I feel I can still positively impact lives the way I have been blessed to do.”