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Kentucky high school football coach Philip Haywood passes away at 73

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•01/24/25•

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Philip Haywood - Kentucky High School Football
Belfry head coach Philip Haywood roamed the sidelines as his team took on DeSales in the Class 3A state semifinal game. Nov. 29, 2019. (© Jeff Faughender/Courier Jurnal, Louisville Courier Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

Philip Haywood, the winningest coach in Kentucky high school football, passed away on January 22 at age 73. As Jared Peck and Valarie Honeycutt Spears of the Lexington Herald-Leader wrote, he sustained injuries in a car crash.

Before his death, Haywood coached the Belfry High School Pirates football team for an astounding 50 seasons. In 2015, he became the first coach in the Bluegrass State to earn 400 victories. Likewise, he earned his 346th victory in 2011, making him the state’s winningest high school football coach.

Haywood’s coaching career ended with an 11-3 record last year, improving his all-time mark to 491-162. Those victories helped Haywood win eight state championships with Belfry, with his first coming in 2003. He led the Pirates to another state title in 2004 and guided the team to four consecutive championships from 2013 to 2016. Haywood added state crowns of 2019 and 2021 to his collection.

Haywood had six runner-up finishes with Belfry. Last season, he guided Belfry to a semifinal appearance in the Class 3A state tournament. Likewise, he won the 2017 National Football Coach of the Year award from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Haywood was also inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.

Philip Haywood’s Kentucky high school football coaching career started in 1972 as a student teacher at Tates Creek, where he met another coaching legend in Roy Walton. A year later, Haywood had his first paid coaching role with Jim DeVries at Meade County.

In 1975, Haywood became the head coach of his alma mater, Prestonsburg High School. He coached the Blackcats for nine years, leading them to two state finals appearances. Haywood started coaching Belfry in 1984, guiding players like Cole Bentley, Austin Dotson, and 2021 Kentucky Mr. Football Isaac Dixon.

Belfry High School organized a visitation to Haywood on January 25 from 3-8 p.m. at their auditorium. Meanwhile, the funeral service will take place the following day, starting at noon. Likewise, other Kentucky high school football schools kept their field lights on to honor Philip Haywood.