Thirty years after walking away from one of the most successful football coaching careers in Harlan County history for a move into school administration, Tim Saylor is back on the football field.
Saylor coached at Cumberland, Pineville and Cawood in a 15-year career that spanned from 1980 to 1994. His most successful teams were at Cumberland as he led the Redskins to regional championships and state runner-up finishes in 1982 and 1983. He had a successful five-year run at Pineville before returning to his alma mater at Cawood in 1989. His 1993 team was his best at JACHS as the Trojans finished 10-2 and claimed the final playoff win in school history before falling to Tim Couch and Leslie County in the second round.
He left football when his son, Jacob, graduated from Cawood in 1995 and became an assistant principal, then a principal at Cumberland Elementary School before being named superintendent of the Harlan County School District. Saylor helped build HCHS football into a 5A state power in his early years by luring Tom Larkey from Rockcastle County to lead the program. He served as a radio analyst on WTUK for several seasons while working as superintendent. He retired from education and later stepped away from radio work.
Saylor returned this summer when Jacob was named the fourth head football coach at Harlan County High School.
“When I first took the job, I called him and told him to ‘get your whistle ready,’” Saylor said. “I asked him how involved he wanted to be. He said he’d come out and watch on his time.
“As time went on, he came out during spring practice and was there every day. I noticed he started coaching a little bit during those days. Then summer practice came around he was there every day again. I went and asked him again how involved he wanted to be. He wanted to be able to move around from group to group, and he agreed to help (coach) Dion (Coldiron) with special teams.”
Saylor won over 100 games in his 15-year high school coaching career. His 79-38 record at Cumberland and Cawood places him fifth in county history in wins and his 68 percent winning percentage ranks third behind only Ed Miracle (who led Lynch to four state titles) and Harlan’s Joe Gilley among coaches with over 100 games.
“”I thought about it for years. I’ve always missed it. I’ve missed being around the kids and being out on the field coaching and teaching,” Tim Saylor said. “But I didn’t think I’d ever be back out on the field. It’s great to be back out here. I’m mainly out here to give moral support and if I can help in some way. I’ve enjoyed it so far.”
Saylor has had his biggest impact on special teams, according to his son.
“I told the kids when he starts you better be ready because it will be intense and he will demand attention,” Jacob Saylor said. “He and Dion Coldiron have brought excitement to special teams and the importance of special teams to this program. We stress there are three parts of the game — offense, defense and special teams. I think that has been a big change for them, the 15 minutes we spend on special teams every day. He helps with the little details more than anything.”
“I’ve had some good football teams over the years, and I always put a great emphasis on special teams, We’re trying to do that here,” Tim Saylor said. “We’re stressing to kids how important It is and it can be the difference in winning a game if you take it seriously and do what you’re supposed to do.”
After watching the team drop to 1-10 last year, both coaches know the program won’t be revitalized overnight.
“The kids will have to buy in, and this group has really impressed me as far as work ethic,” Tim Saylor said. “Number wise we’re down compared to when Tom (Larkey) was here and when coach (Eddie) Creech was here, but we hope to build it back up and get excitement back in the program. We need to have kids buy in and want to learn football and discipline. I think that’s being instilled right now.”
Jacob Saylor said he’s watched his father fall back in love with the game during summer workouts.
“Mom told me one day that they were going to go to Lexington to see the grandkids, but he couldn’t miss practice,” he said. “He’s completely bought in and loves it. He doesn’t want to overshadow me, but I don’t care because I just want to win some games and get this program back on track. He’s trying to help us win.”