The resume speaks for itself:
• 45-year coaching career.
• 1,204 wins; 800 losses; 1 tie.
• Seven state championships (1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1996, 2006, 2009)
• 5-time MAC Coach of the Year.
• 4-time Yazoo Herald Coach of the Year.
• 3-time MHSAA Coach of the Year.
• 3-time Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Coach.
• 2-time Clarion-Ledger Coach of the Year.
• Gym at Yazoo City HS named after him.
• Name synonymous with winning.
• A championship game that will go down in history (Yazoo County’s 2006 upset win over top-ranked Holly Springs in the infamous “Stall Ball Game”).
• Inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in 2018.
I could go on forever listing the accolades of Coach Archie Carlyle.
But my relationship with him was more than covering him as a journalist. It was personal.
Coach Carlyle took me under his wing as his assistant coach when he returned to Yazoo City and taught me much of what I know about coaching the game of basketball. We would spend hours analyzing, game planning, and picking each other’s brains talking basketball (and tennis).
I’ll never forget the 2009 semi-final game against Forest Hill. We were down and seemingly on the brink of a season-ending loss. During a late timeout Tae, Z, Shay, D.D., and Qui all had tears in their eyes, fearing the worst.
Coach looked at them and asked, ‘Why y’all crying? This game’s not over!’ He drew up a play for Tay (Kenyatta Epps), and she nailed a Steph Curry-ish shot from near halfcourt to send the game to overtime.
We went on to upset Forest Hill and a game later, were hoisting the gold ball as the 2009 State Champs.
(Side Note: Those who know coach know I had to get that “ish” in here).
So much of what I do now as head coach of the Lady Indians is a direct result of my time spent with Coach.
From practice procedures down to the way I fold and hang up the uniforms, Coach Carlyle’s imprint is there.
So while I’ll always remember the championships and records, the things I’ll never forget are the life lessons he taught me that I’m now passing along to the next generation.
The importance of planning and doing things the right way. How to never cheat your way through. Hard work, dedication and sacrifice are the things that will lead to success.
Those are things etched in my DNA from my time spent with Coach.
I’ll truly miss him.
Rest In Peace Big C.
