Not intending in any way to pour salt on any open wounds for our friends in Belfry. This was just the topic of a pretty lively text string I had with a few coaching friends of mine last night and I thought I'd ask the question here. The unfortunate truth is that like it or not Belfry does have to figure out where to turn sooner rather than later in order to continue Coach Haywood's legacy with the Pirates.

Is there anyone on the Belfry coaching staff who'd be the heir apparent in the wake of losing Coach Haywood? Would anyone from Belfry's current coaching staff even want to be "the guy who follows up THE guy?" Does the timing of Coach's unexpected passing allow Belfry to conduct a national search? Does Belfry's Appalachian setting present any difficulties to finding interested head coach candidates on a national level?

That's all got to be weighing heavily on the administrators' minds in Pond Creek right now. Continuing Haywood's legacy is an important part of this whole situation, and making the right hire to follow his footsteps is a major part of that.

Anthony Tackett and Matt Varney are the first two that jump to mind. Both have been the staff at Belfry for quite a while...I know Tackett teaches at Belfry and I think Varney does as well. They could possibly be far enough into their lives and careers now that taking a job as head coach isn't necessarily on their list of things to do, though.

Your point about being the guy who follows THE guy is a very good one, though @TylerDurden. It could definitely be a hindrance to some coaches, but not likely all.

I've also got to wonder if David Jones may or may not end up in the mix. He raised some eyebrows when he took the head coaching job at Phelps and made some major strides with that programs during his 2 or 3 years there. The Bourbon County job was a challenge for him, but I think that program was also moving in a positive direction while he was there in spite of their win/loss record. He just finished his second season as head coach at Mingo Central this past fall. He's a WV native and I think he grew up right by Mingo Central, so leaving his home turf might impede a little bit there...but I know he has an awful lot of love for Coach Haywood and staff as well as his old alma mater, so I've gotta think there will be some degree of dialogue there.

I don't think filling the job will be the problem. I am sure there will be plenty of people lining up to take over as head coach. The question I think is more important is the Belfry community reading for the next guy. Meaning to support his vision for Belfry football program. What if the next coach wants to run a spread offense? Is that something people of Belfry can be okay with. No matter the next person will do things differently than Coach Haywood so that may take some adjustment. 

It’s going to be major shoes to fill for whoever it is regardless. Coach Haywood was one of the greatest high school football coaches in Kentucky and outside of it. I look for it to be someone familiar with the program and from the inside. Maybe not though, guess we will see.

Probably someone that's already on staff if I had to guess...

I will be shocked if the hire is not internal and if the hire isn't something that Haywood had already started having discussions and actions about even if there was no imminent timeline.

 

Any movement here?

On 3/7/2025 at 11:02 AM, theguru said:

Any movement here?

Expect an announcement very soon.  

 

On 2/10/2025 at 11:01 AM, ATLCat said:

I will be shocked if the hire is not internal and if the hire isn't something that Haywood had already started having discussions and actions about even if there was no imminent timeline.

 

Exactly, if the new HC can keep the current staff in tact, it will help the transition immensely.  A hire from within would help with that and that's what is expected.

Isn't "Varney" the coach they were building up to take over when Haywood stepped aside? 

Great question! Would it be easier to just hire from within to ease the pain? Following a legend is always tough!

Surely, the hire would defiantly be within as long as they have someone who wants to be a HC. Our maybe a past Belfry Coach or player that understands Belfry football.

I would never want to be "the guy" that follows "THE guy." Going to be super tough for whoever gets this job to replace such a legend. However, I am wishing them the best and hope they do well!

We'll have an answer later this afternoon.