Slow Motion Replay: Jon Collins, the “Johnny Appleseed” of the KHSAA @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @FDouglassFB, @TC_CommodoresFB

Tates Creek graduate has coached football all over our commonwealth

In cities, some said the old man was crazy
While others said he was only lazy;
But he took no notice of gibes and jeers,
He knew he was working for future years...

And if they inquire whence came such trees
Where not a bough once swayed in the breeze,
The answer still comes, as they travel on,
"These trees were planted by Apple-Seed John."

1880, Lydia Maria Child, poem about Johnny Appleseed

Jon Collins is considered by most among the ablest and best assistant coaches to ever serve on any staff. Ask the folks at Frederick Douglass, or Highlands, or Trigg, or Murray High, or Montgomery County, or Breathitt, or Anderson County, or any of the other stops he has made on his professional trek across the commonwealth. Why has he never gotten an opportunity to be a head coach? We simply don’t know. What we do know is he has planted championship football along the way on his professional journey and the entire breadth of Kentucky is the better for his efforts.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Cynthiana, KY: His name was also “John” but with an “H” whereas Coach Collins’ name is spelled “Jon.” The “other John’s” surname was “Chapman,” like the defensive coordinator, John Paul Chapman, Coach Collins worked with at Breathitt High.

There is an argument about which of the Johns, or “Jons,” if you will, are more renown. If you are a football fan, it might well be the football versions. If you’re hungry, it may well be the 19th century version.

John Chapman, the one from the 19th-century, had another name by which he may be better known to you. He was also called Johnny Appleseed.

Johnny Appleseed cared deeply about animals, including insects. There is a famous story about his laying by a camp-fire and noticing the mosquitoes kept flying into the blaze to be burned. Appleseed put the fire out saying, “God forbid that I should build a fire for my comfort, that should be the means of destroying any of His creatures.”

Jonny Football, as we refer to him around the offices of KPGFootball, a.k.a. Jon Collins, cares deeply about the young men who have played football for him, the young men who have been entrusted to his care, and the young men whose fortunes have been, seemingly inextricably, tied to his own. Jon Collins would prefer being uncomfortable then to do anything to detract from the development of any of the players who have toiled under his fatherly guidance.

Jon Collins coached at Trigg County with Dixie Jones. Though not on the ’89 staff at Trigg, Collins’ impact and guidance helped develop the players who would play for that 1A title in 1989.

Collins would then move to Fort Thomas Highlands. Collins would be on the staffs which won titles for the Bluebirds in both 1989 and 1992. In ’89, the Bluebirds would best Allen Cox’s Paducah Tilghman, known far and wide as the “Blue Tornado.”

Collins’ son, Will Tom Collins, with dad in-tow, would help Lexington Christian Academy win a title in 2009. Jon and his rising sophomore son would move back to Breathitt and join Mike Holcomb’s staff and enjoy very successful years there.

Collins was on staffs which were very successful at Montgomery County, had an undefeated 10-0 regular season with Mark Peach and HOFer, Sam Harp, at Anderson County, before joining back up with Breathitt High in 2019 and helping Kyle Moore go 13-1, win the regional crown, and, thereby, helping Coach Moore win the 2A, Kentucky Football Coaches Association (KFCA), Coach of the Year.

Collins then went home to Lexington to work for Frederick Douglass. Jon played for Tates Creek, when Collins was himself in high school.

Once there, Collins helped Frederick Douglass win its 5A football title in 2022 over Bowling Green (Senior) High, 28-7, to cap off a perfect 15-0 season. The Broncos moved up to 6A and have lost to Trinity in overtime of the semis in 2023 and again, in the semis though not in overtime, the following year.

Championships and success seem to follow Jonny Football like apple orchids sprouted across the paths once worn by Johnny Appleseed. Though Johnny Appleseed lived like a homeless man, very meagerly, John Chapman died very wealthy in the 1840s. Chapman owned over 12,000 acres of apple orchards across the country.

Johnny Appleseed realized a considerable and abundant yield. So has our Jonny Football.

Coach Collins is beloved, accomplished, and has spread positive thoughts and results everywhere Miss Betty and he have planted their unique philosophies; their persistent “winning” mentalities. They have both changed the landscape, like the John who came before them.

There is one more Collins story I would like to share. Coach Collins was coaching DBs at Breathitt, but had coached RBs at various stops over his professional tenure. Collins told me one time, “To play RB for Coach Collins, you have to first learn that once you pop through to the second level, and square off with a defender, you have three choices and only three choices. You may run left or right. You may run right over top or through the would-be tackler. Backwards isn’t a choice.”

Sounds like solid life advice. There is no backwards, only forwards.

Both Coach Collins and his wife, Betty, have realized a mighty harvest, though not in apples. They have harvested happiness, contentment, and championship people and teams along their way. Growing like apple trees, firmly rooted; robust…

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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