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The McCoy’s of Patrick Henry Make For

One Happy Coaching Family

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Estill—It might sound a bit strange for the head football coach and the head boy’s basketball coach at Patrick Henry to be sleeping together but married couple Mike and Belinda McCoy just joke about it and move on.

Belinda founded the girl’s basketball program at Fort Dorchester and prior to that she coached the jayvee girls at Summerville where she honed her coaching skills on the bench beside Hall of Fame cousin Teresa Kendle. She has been the boy’s coach at Patrick Henry for the past three seasons.

Mike McCoy has been the athletic director and head football coach at Patrick Henry for 16 years. His job appears quite secure when you hear about the many hats he wears at this small rural SCISA school.

“Heck, he opens the school every day with his daughter and they have four pots of coffee made before the sun comes up on most school mornings,” said one local merchant in July. “He is a huge part of our school.”

McCoy has help from fourth grade daughter Telie. “She’s been getting up at 5 a.m. every school morning and she has been going to help me open up the school and one of the first things we do is fix four pots of coffee,” said Coach McCoy. “She is also my water girl on the football team.    

“Our coaches all work well together and they are supportive of each others programs,” said Coach McCoy.

Other varsity coaches at the school include volleyball coach Mark Cooper with five year’s experience. Cooper has also coached girl’s basketball at the school for 20 years. He won the region two years ago in basketball.

The baseball coach is Bo Wilson in his 4th year. The Patriots won the region this past year and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.  Lynn Manuel is the first year varsity softball coach. The school is starting a varsity program back after having a jayvee team for the past few years. Fifteen years ago the school won two SCISA Class A softball titles...

Britt Wall also returns for his third year as the golf coach. His teams have dominated region play. The girl’s soccer coach is Wendy Jarrell and her team plays in the spring.

Fall football practice begins August, 2 and Coach McCoy expects around 20 candidates led by senior running back Austin Rowell who gained 3,052 yards in one season for the Patriots.

The football season will begin on August, 20 against new program Greenwood Christian.  

 

 

on so they are probably playing their best football now.   We don't need to overlook Beaufort Academy.
   "They will come after us like they have nothing to lose, and they don't. We will see their best effort."



Patrick Henry wins Homecoming, 52-12

Staff report
    Estill (10/15/09) - Patrick Henry celebrated homecoming with a victory over non-region opponent Trinity Collegiate Academy of Darlington, 52-12. The Patriots took the game to the visiting Titans, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and 32 points in the second.
    "We came out flat but really turned it on in the second quarter," said coach Mike McCoy. "It was a good win for Homecoming, and because of our big halftime lead, we got to give everyone lots of playing time."
    Despite sitting out the second half, junior running back Austin Rowell continued his torrid rushing pace, tallying 301 yards on 24 carries in the first half.
    "Austin continues to fill the role of the typical Patriot running back," said McCoy. "We expect our backs to have lot of carries and lots of yards, and Austin is doing just that."
    Rowell now has 1,664 yards on the season.
    "It was a total team effort. Everyone played and some young players got significant playing time," said McCoy. "The team asked me to put Matthew Mills in at running back for a series and he even scored."
    Senior lineman Mills carried the ball five times for 62 yards and a touchdown.
    McCoy continued, "Our defense played well tonight. Their quarterback could run well and had a good arm but we put enough pressure on him that he didn't complete too many passes. Our line and linebackers contained him and shut down their running game for the most part."
    Lamar Smith and CJ Sheffield both had seven tackles and Smith intercepted a pass. Smith and his brother, Koty, both have two interceptions on the season. Seniors Tucker Swofford and Chad McClary both had fumble recoveries.
    Fullback Swofford scored two touchdowns and four conversion runs for a total of 28 points on the night. Rowell tallied 18 points. Senior tight end David Beach scored his first touchdown of the season on an end around.
    Patrick Henry moves to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in region play. The Patriots travel to Florence this week to face The King's Academy.