After working with the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) in various capacities over the course of the past 40 years, former Manchester Academy head football coach Benny McLendon was given the honor of an induction into the MAISCA Hall of Fame.
The reception and banquet will be held at the Jackson Convention Center on August 6.
When he found out the news, McLendon found himself stunned, yet he was thankful for the people he was able to coach throughout his career.
“It was a shock for me,” McLendon said. “I was surprised, humbled and appreciative. I can’t thank the young boys and girls that I coached over the years enough.”
As a young man, McLendon began his work with the MAIS as an official, refereeing baseball, basketball and football in his spare time.
McLendon’s officiating career spanned 15 years, and he was even able to call his fair share of community college baseball games in the process.
Still, McLendon craved more.
As a parent to multiple sons, he had the opportunity to coach little league baseball teams in the summer, which is where his coaching career officially began.
But he was given an opportunity to take a big step in his progression when a job opened up that was dear to his heart.
“The real reason I got into coaching was that when Mike, my son, was in the eighth grade until he was a senior, he had a different head baseball coach at Humphreys (Academy) every single year,” McLendon said. “Some people in the community pushed me to take the job. They told me the only way I would be able to do that is if I came on full time, so I started as the hall monitor, baseball coach and helped out with football. I took over the baseball team in the second half of my son’s senior year”
That’s not to say that the transition from the job he had to the job he wanted was going to be an easy one.
In fact, his wife was skeptical about the major change in their lives.
But he did what it took to make the ends meet
“Sissy, my wife, was more nervous than I was,” McLendon said. “Back in those days I was making really good money in construction, and I took a really big pay cut to start coaching. I wasn’t doing weight lifting in those days, so I had a job in the summers to have enough money to do whatever we needed to do as parents.”
McLendon spent the next 19 years coaching baseball, football and whatever else Rebel Nation needed at Humphreys Academy, and though he wore a lot of hats in his years with Humphreys and brought a lot of success to the school, the biggest thing he accomplished was his influence on those around him.
Joe Taylor, a longtime assistant coach of McLendon’s at Humphreys and now headmaster at Humphreys Academy, still carries a piece of advice with him that was given by McLendon.
“Benny is very consistent and cares a lot about the kids he coaches,” Taylor said. “I remember one of the things he told me when I first started coaching for him. He told me to always be fair and do what I think is right. I still use that advice to this day. If I do what I think in my heart is right and fair is right, I can sleep at night and know that I did a good job.”
After his time at Humphreys came to an end after 19 years, McLendon moved on to Manchester Academy, where he coached for four football seasons.
To Manchester Academy headmaster Bryan Dendy, who served over McLendon during his four years there, personality and reliability stood out the most.
“Benny McLendon was really good with the kids,” Dendy said. “He was a genuine person. When he told you he was going to do something, he did it. He’s a very good man.”
In his years at Manchester, McLendon became a beloved confidant to Dendy.
“He would give you somebody to talk to, somebody to bounce ideas off of,” Dendy said. “He would give really good advice. He really worked well with me at times. He came to us when we desperately needed someone like him.”
After leaving Manchester Academy in December of 2013, he made the move over to Deer Creek School, where he currently coaches.
Still, McLendon will always have love in his heart for Humphreys Academy for giving him a life-changing opportunity all those years ago.
“I can’t thank the people of HA enough for giving me an opportunity,” McLendon said. “I’ve been blessed enough in my career to only coach at three schools. A lot of people end up at eight or nine over a career, but I’ve only been at three.”
Although he has put in 40 years of work in the MAIS, he still believes he has plenty left in the tank.
“I still enjoy coaching,” McLendon said. “I enjoy fussing at the kids. I like being around young people because it makes me feel young. I still do push-ups, sit-ups, walk and run some. As long as I can still motivate the kids and work on the field, I plan on doing this.”
McLendon is in the process of prepping for yet another football season at Deer Creek, and he’s happy with that.
For more information on the banquet, call 601-932-2007.
