ABOUT
Philip Haywood's Background
Meet Philip Haywood, the winningest high school football coach in Kentucky history with an impressive record of 480 wins over 49 seasons. He currently ranks fifth in the nation among active coaches. For the past 40 years, Philip has been the head football coach at Belfry High School in Belfry, Kentucky, guiding the Pirates to extraordinary success with over 400 victories – an average of 10 wins per season – including 14 title game appearances and eight state championships.
- BACKGROUND
- CAREER
Philip is not only a successful high school football coach, but also a man of faith who is actively involved in his church. He was the FCA huddle leader at BHS for 34 years and speaks regularly at churches, youth meetings, and various organizations and businesses. In addition, he conducts leadership training, teaching the values and concepts that have led to his success.
With a career that began in 1972 as an assistant coach at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky, Philip has since served as an assistant at Meade County High School and then returned to his alma mater, Prestonsburg High School, where he directed the Blackcats to four playoff appearances and three regional championships as the head coach. His numerous awards and recognitions include being named 2013 USA Today's Best High School Football Coach, 2017 National High School Football Coach of the Year, 5-time Louisville Courier-Journal Coach of the Year, and many more.
Philip and his wife Linda have been married for 50 years and have two children, Melissa and Jacquelyn. They have four grandchildren, Janet, Zachary, Quincy, and Lydia, and two great-grandchildren, Andy and Raina.
"Success is the process of intentionally getting a little better each day."