Belfry head football coach Philip Haywood suffers serious injury in car accident

You can’t discuss Kentucky high school football without mentioning Belfry head coach Philip Haywood. The state’s winningest coach has roamed the sidelines for 50 seasons and owns a 491-62 career record with eight state titles and six runner-up finishes. That’s the most victories in this state’s rich history.

Haywood is a legendary football figure in the Bluegrass State, but the 73-year-old is now dealing with a serious medical injury after a car accident on Saturday morning. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Haywood’s vehicle went into a creek after hitting black ice in Pike County.

“He’s got two punctured lungs, a hematoma on the brain and a cervical fracture,” Haywood’s daughter Melissa said on Facebook. “Please keep my dad and family in your prayers.”

Philip Haywood began his coaching career in 1972 at Tates Creek High School and took the Belfry head coaching job in 1984. The Pirates won a state title in 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021 under Haywood. Isaac Dixon won Mr. Football playing for Belfry in 2021. Belfry finished the 2024 season with an 11-3 record with the season ending in the state semifinal against Union County. That was Haywood’s 50th season at Belfry.

Thoughts and prayers to Haywood’s family, friends, Belfry, and entire Kentucky high school football community.