Haynes named Hardin football coach, athletic director

[bronco1]

Haynes named Hardin football coach, athletic director - Former schoolboy, collegiate star QB gets trustees unanimous okay

http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18465928&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=544870&rfi=6

In a solidarity stamp of approval, the Hardin school trustee voted unanimously last Monday night to employ Larry Haynes as the Hornets head football coach and athletic director. The action came about after former head coach, Mike Morgan, resigned in early May to accept an assistant coach's position at Carthage High School.

Haynes is no stranger to the Hardin community, having grown up in the area and attended Hardin schools most of his young life except for a brief few months of his senior year, when he transferred to Liberty High School. He graduated from Hardin High School in May 1976.

  A three-sport lettermen throughout his varsity years, Haynes excelled on the gridiron at quarterback, leading the Hornets to a district championship in his junior year and a major contributor in Liberty's winning a zone championship, his senior year.

Haynes received a football scholarship to Tyler Junior College and following a two-year stint transferred to Lamar University where he earned honorable-mention All-American honors at the Division I institution.

While at Lamar, Haynes broke 17 school records and established four new conference marks through his prolific achievements as a passer. In his senior year at the Beaumont school, the Lamar U. Cardinals were listed as the third best passing team in the nation and fifth overall in total passing yards.

Although his team fell short in its bid to play in a bowl game, Haynes was nominated for the Omar Bradley award, a prestigious honor for athletic collegians.

Following his college tenure, Haynes tried to earn a spot in the National Football League. He was unsuccessful in tryouts with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns. And despite having a paid bus ticket to Montreal for a job possibility in the Canadian Football League, he nixed the idea of going north.

With an expectant wife foremost in his thoughts, Haynes decided to end the pro football pursuit and launch his career as a high school coach.

In 1981, Haynes went to work as an assistant coach at Nacogdoches High School and spent eight years there before taking his first head job at Lumberton in 1989. After three years at Lumberton, where he compiled a won-loss record of 19-11, he was on the move again and went to Clear Lake, where he guided the Falcons to the Class 5A playoffs in his first season.

In four seasons at Clear Lake, Haynes won two district championships and had two undefeated district seasons.

An opportunity to increase his personal finances lured him to Haltom in 1996. In five years in the north Texas town, Haynes won three district championships and had two undefeated district campaigns.

Another interesting development occurred in his final year at Haltom.

Haynes' youngest son, Kellen, became the starting varsity quarterback for the final six games of his freshman year. With football skills similar to his dad, Kellen began an outstanding career that would earn him statewide recognition and record-setting achievements as he guided his dad's teams for the remainder of his high school career.

Haynes next destination took him to the head football post at Fort Worth Brewer. With the intent of finishing out Kellen's high school days in "Cowtown," Haynes had an abrupt change of plans when his own father developed some major medical issues.

After one year at Brewer, the Haynes family moved back to southeast Texas as Larry settled in as head football coach and athletic director at Crosby. Kellen finished up two spectacular years and landed a scholarship to the University of North Texas.

By the next season, Haynes was head coach at Aldine Eisenhower. After just one year at the school, Haynes resigned. His only comment about the experience was that, "it wasn't a good fit for me and I wasn't a good fit for them."

The past two seasons Haynes has been assisting an old friend, Dick Olin, develop a winning football team at Baytown Robert E. Lee. In 2006, Haynes was the quarterback coach and offensive coordinator while helping the Ganders make the state playoffs.

Their season ended after coming up short in a 34-33 double overtime setback to perennial powerhouse North Shore.

Upon being named head coach at Hardin, Haynes indicated that this job was something he always wanted.

"For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to come back to Hardin one day and coach," said Haynes. "My wife and I purchased some acreage nearby a few years ago and we intend to make Hardin our home."

Several factors came into play for Haynes to make his return, but one of the biggest influences he admits is when he learned that Bob Parker (Dayton ISD assistant superintendent) would become the new superintendent for Hardin ISD.

"I am really excited about the opportunity to get to work with Bob Parker," said Haynes. "He was my junior high coach and I remember how enthusiastic and positive he always was. He was an excellent coach and communicator and kept us all motivated."

Haynes brings a brilliant won-loss record to the Hornets. He has won 118 games, lost 53 and tied three times in a coaching career that spans 26 seasons.

Haynes and wife, Peggy, are the parents of two sons, Richard, 25, and Kellen, 22.

©Houston Community Newspapers Online 2007

[Guest ECBucFan]

More evidence this 2A district is going to be stronger, across the board!