Belfry’s Haywood first Kentucky football coach to win national high school award | Lexington Herald Leader

 

Philip Haywood, who led Belfry High School to its fourth consecutive Class 3A state football championship last fall, has been named national football coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

 

The association names national coaches of the year in 16 boys’ and girls’ sports and honored its winners Thursday during a banquet in Peoria, Ill. Haywood became the first coach from Kentucky to win the national honor for football in the 40-year history of the award.

 

Haywood, Kentucky’s all-time winningest high school football coach with 417 career victories, capped a 14-1 season in 2016 by leading the Pirates to the 3A title. It was Haywood’s sixth state championship overall. Belfry won four playoff games by scores of 50-0, 61-0, 43-12 and 42-17 before defeating Central 52-31 in the state championship game. Belfry became the first school from Eastern Kentucky to win four consecutive state titles.

 

Haywood, who is 417-129 in 42 seasons as a head coach, was nominated for the award by the state coaches’ association. The selection was based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years, and winning percentage. The National High School Athletic Coaches Association is the oldest coaches association formed by coaches, for coaches, in the nation, and has recognized national coaches of the year since 1978.

 

Before its recent run, Belfry also won state championships under Haywood in 2003 and 2004.

 

A Prestonsburg native, Haywood got his start in coaching as a student teacher at Tates Creek in 1972. His first head coaching job was at Prestonsburg, where he spent nine years and reached the state semifinals twice. He has spent the past 33 seasons at Belfry.

Congrats Coach Haywood!

 

Congrats Belfry Pirates!

Big time recognition for a true ambassador for Kentucky High School Football.

 

Congratulations to one of the finest men I have ever known.

That's outstanding. Thanks for sharing that 2C.

I don't want this to sound like it's a swipe against Coach Haywood, because I am keenly aware of his monumental stature in Ky HS FB.

 

But are there other organizations that award such things? Reason why I ask is there is a banner in Bardstown's gym for Garnis Martin winning a national COY award for football.

I've already relayed this story to Watusi but I'll share it here.

 

This past week my daughter was at Transy attending HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) for four days. Sunday we picked her up and she was going on and on about the activities, service projects, team building and speakers that were there. I asked her about her speakers and she said her favorite out of all of the speakers was a football coach. She said he was great and was excited to shake his hand and meet him afterwards. I figured it was a local college coach maybe someone on UK's staff or someone local to the Lexington area.

 

I asked her who it was that had such an impact on her that he was not only her favorite speaker but her favorite part of the week...she said have you ever heard of Coach Haywood from Belfry? I of course told her that I knew who he was and I reminded her that he had a part in making her cry once upon a time as he was the opposing coach in her big brother's last high school football game. :lol2:

 

Coach Haywood drove all the way to Lexington just to speak to 250 or so kids, speaking about the importance of leadership and character. Which he demonstrated by his mere presence to speak to them.

 

Congrats Coach on a well deserved award!

I don't want this to sound like it's a swipe against Coach Haywood, because I am keenly aware of his monumental stature in Ky HS FB.

 

But are there other organizations that award such things? Reason why I ask is there is a banner in Bardstown's gym for Garnis Martin winning a national COY award for football.

I wondered the same thing and I would imagine there are other similar awards.

I've already relayed this story to Watusi but I'll share it here.

 

This past week my daughter was at Transy attending HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) for four days. Sunday we picked her up and she was going on and on about the activities, service projects, team building and speakers that were there. I asked her about her speakers and she said her favorite out of all of the speakers was a football coach. She said he was great and was excited to shake his hand and meet him afterwards. I figured it was a local college coach maybe someone on UK's staff or someone local to the Lexington area.

 

I asked her who it was that had such an impact on her that he was not only her favorite speaker but her favorite part of the week...she said have you ever heard of Coach Haywood from Belfry? I of course told her that I knew who he was and I reminded her that he had a part in making her cry once upon a time as he was the opposing coach in her big brother's last high school football game. :lol2:

 

Coach Haywood drove all the way to Lexington just to speak to 250 or so kids, speaking about the importance of leadership and character. Which he demonstrated by his mere presence to speak to them.

 

Congrats Coach on a well deserved award!

 

Great story and one that epitomizes who Haywood is.

 

For as great as his legacy on the gridiron has been... I think his greatest impact has been in his leadership and how he tries to pour himself into youth in all aspects, not just on the field.