MORGANTOWN – Morgantown Head Football Coach Matt Lacy is stepping away from the program he has been a part of as a player, assistant coach and head coach, for more than two decades.
“We evaluate after the end of every season and thought it was best for my family moving forward,” Lacy said. “Even the night before, my wife was kind of talking me out of it, just trying to make sure that this is really what I want to do.”
Lacy informed his players of the decision Tuesday afternoon.
“We are so very grateful for the job Matt Lacy has done for MHS and MHS football. He has been with the program for 21 years. He was a valued and reliable assistant and transitioned into a caring, dedicated head coach for the last four years. We wish Matt nothing but the best in the next chapter of his life,” MHS Athletics Director John Bowers said in a statement.
Being a football coach in 2019 is nearly a year round job. There are seven-day workweeks during the season, weight lifting sessions to supervise in the offseason, a three-week workout period in the summer plus additional flex practice days to fit into the schedule. With all of those responsibilities on, Lacy was starting to miss out on his most important job, being around for his daughters’ activities.
“My oldest daughter is in middle school and runs cross-country and I had to miss one of her races this year. I hated to do that. Then I have two younger daughters and they’re in school now and into activities and I hate to think I’m going to have to miss some of those activities to do football stuff.”
Growing up, Lacy noted his parents were around for his games and other school activities and wanted to make certain he was around to support his daughters. In fact, his father, Greg, was part of Lacy’s staff over the last four years, manning the equipment room, helping to film games and doing just about anything else the program needed.
“It was real special having him around, it meant a lot to me,” an emotional Lacy said, while noting, his dad was never shy to offer an honest opinion when it was needed.
Lacy, who worked his way up from a volunteer assistant coach on the freshman team to being the Mohigans’ head coach, just completed his 21st season as a coach within the Morgantown High Football program.
“Just the grind of coaching, coming up with schemes, being with the kids everyday, those are the things I’m going to miss,” Lacy contemplated.
Morgantown went 22-23 during Lacy’s tenure as head coach. He took over the program in 2016 and his four years at the helm produced a mixed bag of success.
In his first season as head coach, Morgantown finished with a 10-3 record and advanced to the semifinals, falling to eventual state champion Martinsburg. Morgantown reached the playoffs again in 2017 and 2018, bowing out in the first round each year.
Playing one of the toughest schedules in the state each season, Morgantown failed to post a winning season during Lacy’s final three seasons and missed the playoffs this past year, finishing 3-7. Even though Morgantown reached the playoffs three times under Lacy, 2016 was the only winning season.
“There’s nothing more than to see the program succeed again but that’s going to take a lot of time and effort to do that and I just don’t have the time with having the three young kids at home.”
Lacy joined the Mohigans’ coaching staff in 1999 as a volunteer assistant coach for the freshmen football team and was promoted to head coach of the freshmen team in 2002. Former Head Coach John Bowers added lacy to the varsity staff in 2003. In 2014, Bowers named Lacy defensive coordinator, a position he has held until being promoted to head coach in 2016.
Following John Bowers resignation in May 2016, the job drew statewide and nationwide attention with coaches all from across West Virginia and as far away as Florida applying for the job.