Jackie Hayes Named Lower State Class AA Coach of the Year

By Craig Brown

As I approached Coach Hayes on the practice field Tuesday and congratulated him on being selected as lower state Class AA Coach of the Year, the always humble coach stated that the honor goes to the assistant coaches and players.

Coach Hayes added that he believes he has the best coaching staff in the state and the greatest group of young football players anywhere.

“It is a great honor that the coaches around the state voted me this honor but no one man can achieve this and I believe the honor goes to the entire team,” stated Coach Hayes.

Coach Hayes is not new to coaching honors and his past achievements include 1993 Turnaround Coach of the Year, 1999 Class AAAA Coach of the Year, 2004 Class AAA Coach of the Year, and 2008 Class AA Coach of the Year.

As he always does, Coach Hayes told me that I was always welcome on his sideline and then he returned to preparing his team to face either Battery Creek or Wade Hampton on Friday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Dillon’s Memorial Stadium.