Kentucky Lost a True Legend with Passing of Phillip Haywood

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Phillip Haywood won 491 games in his high school coaching career.

If you followed Kentucky high school football, you knew about Phillip Haywood.

He took over as head football coach at Belfry and spent the last 41 years there compiling a 491-162 record and becoming the state’s all-time winningest coach. He led Belfry to its first state title in 2003 and then added seven more titles in 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021. In 2013, he was named USA Today’s best high school football coach.

Haywood was seriously injured in an automobile accident a few days ago and passed Wednesday from those injuries leaving a huge void  not only at Belfry but in eastern Kentucky and high school football in general across the state.

He was an intense competitor but was a beloved, iconic figure.

“Hard to believe how quickly things can change and happen,” Kentucky High School Athletic Association commissioner Julian Tackett posted on Facebook. “While the history books will write about 491-162 on Friday nights from 1975 to 2024, the real history is told in the lives of the people he coached, mentored, and was more like a father to so many.

“Our only goal in all of this should be to say that we made a difference in the lives of those we came in contact with. And he certainly did. I will miss his regular calls and conversations and gleaning from his wisdom, and many times, just about ‘Stuff.’ Coach Philip Haywood will be missed in more ways than imaginable. May he RIP.”

Yes he will be missed and that was obvious immediately after I posted about his passing on X.

Here are a few of the responses I got almost immediately to the news:

East Jessamine coach Trenton Fields — Praying for Coach Haywood’s friends and family. Kentucky high school football legend! His legacy will live on in Belfry and throughout Kentucky. RIP Coach.”

Bell County offensive line coach Jon Shipley: “A legend and celebrity in the state of Kentucky. Very very sorry for this loss for his family and the Belfry community.”

Knoxville WBIR-TV sports anchor Camille Gear: “RIP to the king of high school football in Kentucky. Haywood was an amazing coach and more importantly an advocate for Eastern Kentucky. I’ll never forget when I would go to practices. I would always ask him the keys to winning whatever game they had coming up next and his answer never changed —  ‘To get a little better each and every day. You may not notice a week from now but you will in a month, or six months from now.’ That’s always stuck with me and how I try to live my life.’

WLEX-TV sports anchor Keith Farmer: “I had the great opportunity to cover Coach Haywood in my first few years in the business. He was a terrific gentleman and humble while putting together some terrific teams. I hate to hear this news.”

WKYT-TV sports personality Steve Moss: “A tough day for Kentucky High School Football and Eastern Kentucky sports.”

Long-time high school football coach Paul Rains: “One of Kentucky’s greatest football coaches, and just as good a man. RIP Prayers for family.”

Danville football coach Steve Stonebraker: “Such sad news. Prayers for his family and the Belfry football family.”

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