Jacob Saylor watched the Harlan County High School football program from day one, including the four straight district titles and 5A regional championships in 2010, 2012 and 2017. He also saw the program slowly decline, including last year’s 1-10 mark that was a program low in victories.
Saylor, a former assistant coach at Cawood, Harlan and Middlesboro, wanted to be the person to bring the program back and was introduced as the new HCHS football coach on Tuesday at the school.
“It’s extremely exciting to be back in coaching. It’s been a while, but the game as a whole doesn’t change,” Saylor said. “I have so much family involved in this program. My papaw’s name (Needham Saylor) is on the field, and my dad (Tim Saylor, a former coach and superintendent) and my dad being involved with the school being put together. I’m ready to go to work.”
“I told you we’d not stop till we get it right, and it’s right,” said Harlan County High School athletic director Eugene Farmer as he introduced the returning HCHS football players to their new coach. “This will be the most professional organization you’ve been involved in. When you’re finished here, you’ll be a better student, a better football player and most importantly a better man.”
“You’ve got a decision to make,” Saylor told the players assembled in the HCHS auditorium. “The season starts now. You win the offseason. You work Monday through Thursday and have fun on Fridays. We can win here, and it’s up to you. We’re going to go to work as soon as we get this weight room set up.”
Construction has started on the new weight room facility next to the football field at Coal Miners Memorial Stadium, but the team will continue to use weights at the school until the new facility is ready.
Saylor already has an idea what system he wants to implement.
“I will be a system coach and not one who switches offenses yearly or during the year,” Saylor said. “We’ll be based out of the Wing T, but it will be different than your traditional Wing T. There will be misdirection with the triple option involved in it — midline and inside veer with a lot of play action. This quarterback doesn’t have to be the best athlete, but it has to be someone who can handle being hit and can check out of plays. We’ll have a play called where he can left or right and he’ll learn how to call and change the play at the line of scrimmage. We won’t depend on someone throwing it all over the field.”
Saylor said hard work is the first step in rebuilding.
“(We need) a culture change,” he said. “The mindset of learning how to win and how to work and put in the time in the offseason is vital. Being positive and getting kids to hold each other accountable and trusting in the coaching staff to put them in the best position to win football games on Friday night.”
Saylor plans to add district administrator Brett Johnson to the staff. The two played together at Cawood High School with Saylor as the quarterback and Johnson his top receiver and playmaker.
”Brett is someone that I’ve been with for a long time that has my utmost faith and trust,” Saylor said. “He knows exactly what I’m thinking and what I’m trying to accomplish, and we will feed off each other.”
Saylor said Justin Curry, also a former Middlesboro, Dunbar and Harlan assistant, will also play a key role on the staff.
”I am super excited about Justin staying on board,’ Saylor said. “Justin understands the game and knows what it takes to win.”
Bert Marcum, a former Bell County lineman who has also coached for a number of years, will also be part of the staff.
”Bert is a high energy guy that is a relentless worker,” Saylor said. “He really understands the offense that we’re trying to implement and will really help our offensive and defensive line.”
Zach Caldwell, who was a star offensive lineman for the Bears in the mid 2010s and has helped his father, Scott, the past couple of years with the middle school program, will also join the staff.
”Zach is a former HC football player who has a good football mind. I feel it is very important to try and get former HC players involved in the program,” Saylor said.
Jeff Branson returns to his administrative role on the coaching staff, taking care of many of the day-to-day issues.
”Jeff does a wonderful job on all the off field operations,” Saylor said. :He is the guy behind the scenes that keeps a program operating.”
Jacob Branson and Christian Hall, both standouts on the 2017 regional championship team, will be part of the staff and focus on the junior varsity and freshman teams.
“We want them to have their own practices and games,” Saylor said.
Saylor also said he was looking into splitting up the middle school teams back into three squads, with teams at Cumberland, Evarts and Cawood as was the case when HCHS opened in 2008.