Jack Carey among the very best coaches to grace a Hazard or Middlesboro sideline
We enjoy jumping in our way-back machine to revisit some of the former greats to have ever graced a sideline. Today, we feature a guy who left this world far too early, only 54-years old when he passed in a Tennessee hospital in 1982. Carey built programs and both programs he helped build (or stabilize) remain very competitive today. Enjoy this look back at a man who could both play and coach the game.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Middlesboro, KY: Jack Carey was an All State 5’11”, 190 lb. fullback for the Yellow Jackets of Middlesboro High School in 1944. Carey set the Cumberland Valley Conference scoring record that season with 116 points, besting the old mark by 18-points.
Middlesboro won the CVC (Cumberland Valley Conference) in 1943 and in 1944. In the CVC in 1944, Middlesboro was unbeaten, untied, and didn’t allow a single point.
Carey would play collegiately at tackle for Georgetown College. We can’t find much about his play for the Tigers but Carey had been an all-state fullback in high school; so, there is little reason to believe Carey struggled at the college level.
Carey became head football coach at Hazard in 1963. In Carey’s first two seasons at the helm, in ’63 and in ’64, his teams went 20-2 and won a Region title.
But three of those first season wins were later reversed when it was determined a player had been over the age limit. After coaching there one more season, Carey quit coaching but continued to teach at the high school.
That proved to be hazardous for Hazard. No more winning seasons for several years.
Carey’s first two years at Hazard the team posted a 20-2 record
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Hazard High talked Carey into resurrecting his coaching duties to start the 1969 season. Things needed to go on a straighter pathway toward success.
Too many great athletes and too much pride at the school for Hazard to remain mired any where from piss-poor to lower-mediocrity. The Bulldog fans just couldn’t permit the program to linger at the level to which it had fallen, so Carey agreed to, once again, take over the program’s fortunes.
The Bulldogs promptly went on to a 7-3 season which, but for a controversial two-point loss to another really good (Golden) Bulldogs team, in Lynch East Main High, could have been an 8-2 worksheet. In 1970, Hazard would go 8-2 and win another Region championship but fall to State Champions, Ft. Thomas Highlands, in the 2A title game.
The 1971 season seemed like it was going to be even better as several of the Bulldog basket-ballers were buying in to the football coach’s ways. All-State junior basket-baller, Johnny Hagans, was a tremendous running back. Joe Hill was 6’5” and another basket-baller who made a big target, at end, for quarterback, Craig Campbell.
Payne Olinger, above pictured with Coach Carey, was another basket-baller who was tough as nails. On the gridiron Olinger made an incredible 28-tackles against Paintsville in 1971.
Carey left Hazard to return to Middlesboro in 1975. Mr. Carey passed away in July, 1982 at the age of 54.
Carey was gone way too soon, but the memories of his many triumphs continue to dwell in our hearts and in our minds. Gone, but far from forgotten…
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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