By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – On Sunday night, Bayley Blanchard said he popped in an old VHS tape of Cherokee County High School football highlight reels from 2003-05. While he was watching it, Blanchard couldn’t help but reminisce about the days he was a ball boy with the Warriors, roaming the sideline with his father James when he was defensive coordinator there.
Now, some 20-plus years later, Blanchard is coming home.
The Cherokee County Board of Education called a special meeting Monday to officially hire Blanchard as the new head football coach of the Warriors.
“The biggest part of the decision was family,” said Blanchard, who guided Class 3A Glencoe to a 7-4 record last season – his first as a head coach. “Everybody in my family has ties to Cherokee County. Dad coached here in the past. I was actually the ball boy when he was coaching here, when Coach (Tripp) Curry was here. My uncle (Fran) coached here, both of my cousins (Coty and Candace). My sisters played here (Tara Dawn and Meg). My mom (Rhonda) teaches here. My little sister (Meg) teaches here. My aunt (Tara) is here with the board. It’s a whole family affair. It’s just really special to get to come home for sure.
“All those guys in 2005, when I was old enough to know what was going on being the ball boy, they’re still guys I see to this day. They’re like big brothers to me. There were a lot of great guys on that team, and then to see Coty do what he did, I’m excited to get to add to that.”
Cherokee County High School Principal Bobby Tittle said he’s glad Blanchard accepted the call home.
“We believe it’s a home run hire,” Tittle said. “Coach Blanchard is a young and upcoming coach. He’s had a lot of success at Glencoe as an assistant and then last year as a head coach. They were able to turn around a program that was 2-8 and 3-7. They had a 7-3 record and went to the playoffs (last season). He’s a Cherokee County guy. He has ties to Cherokee County, family members who played at Cherokee County. We’re really excited to have him come on board as our next head coach and real excited about what he’s bringing to our program.”
As Tittle said, Blanchard guided Glencoe last season to its best record since 2015. Prior to last season, he spent three years as an assistant with the Yellow Jackets.
Blanchard said it was bittersweet for him to leave Glencoe, but the chance to return home was too hard to turn down.
“I hate to leave, but you can’t help when opportunity knocks,” Blanchard said. “Family was the biggest decision for me. There are so many great kids at Glencoe, and I’m going to love them and support them even while I’m over here. Friday nights, when we get done playing, the first thing I’m probably going to do is check the score and see how those guys did. I’m going to keep up with all of them.”
Blanchard is a 2016 Piedmont graduate, where he played for head coach Steve Smith and helped the Bulldogs earn a state championship in 2015 as a wide receiver.
James Blanchard was the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator at Piedmont during his son’s high school days. He passed away in 2024 at the age of 59 following a battle with throat cancer.
When asked what he thought his dad would feel about him becoming the head football coach at Cherokee County High School, the younger Blanchard said “He would be ecstatic.”
“It’s always been our dream,” he said. “I said this when I got hired at Glencoe. I wish he was here, but he’s in the best coaching box you could ever ask for in heaven.”
Blanchard also has a deep respect for Smith, calling him “like another dad.”
“Coach Smith is a mentor to me. He’s been in this business a long time and done a phenomenal job. I called him a lot, talked to him a lot (about the Cherokee County position). He’s from Cherokee County. He played here. He knows about the community. He gave me a lot of advice. Obviously, when you’re talking to one of the greatest high school football coaches in the state you’re going to listen to their advice.”
After graduating Piedmont, Blanchard went on and played college ball at West Alabama. He earned All-Gulf South Conference honors in three seasons while he played at Livingston.
From ball boy to player and now as a head coach, Blanchard hopes to instill what he’s learned to the next generation in Centre.
“We’re going to implement hard work and do the little things right,” he said. “There might be some differences I bring in, but Coach Kelley and his staff did a great job. You don’t just make the state championship three times for nothing.
“I’m just looking forward to meeting the kids and get to work with a great administration. My mom brags on them all the time. When everything comes together, it’ll be a special thing.”
