Through grueling practices in one hundred and ten-degree South Georgia heat, and players are questioning themselves, their ability, and their strength. However, in those periods that every player will go through in preseason or maybe trying to get past an injury there can be a reassuring voice of someone that has steadfast faith that player will make it. Toombs County head coach Lyman Guy has been that voice for the Bulldogs.
In his first season, Toombs finished with a record of 2-8. Losing seasons have shaken many head coaches to the point of leaving a program, but Guy has had experiences a lot worse than a losing football season. Those experiences helped Guy to play for state titles at Robert Toombs Christian Academy, winning one, and he lead the dramatic turnaround at Class AAAAA Richmond Hill. 
One of the most important traits that football coaches want to see in players is toughness, both physical and mental. Before Guy started to coach, the place where he worked was a breeding ground for toughness, although not exactly the kind of toughness that you need on the gridiron. The toughness that Guy saw on a daily basis was rooted in survival, since his job was to guard prisoners for the Georgia Department of Corrections.
“I spent 10 years as an officer at the Department of Corrections at the state prison in Reidsville. While I was there, you name it; I saw it, dealt with it. I’ve had to deal with unruly and rioting inmates, and I’ve had to remove bodies from cells. I’ve had to duck when feces were thrown at me,” Guy says.
All that separated him from some very dangerous individuals was 48 feet of battleship-grey concrete walls and iron bars. Professionally, guards are doing an important and necessary job; but at the same time, both physically and psychologically, they are part of the same concrete jungle as those that are incarcerated.
The sensitive nature of working in corrections means that a guard is constantly paying attention to detail and actively monitoring inmates at all times. Furthermore, employees are denied use of any kind of cellular or electronic devices for their own protection.
“Since we couldn’t have iPhones or anything, I can ended up getting a little red-covered Gideon’s Bible. I read it cover-to-cover over the time I was there. It really opened me up to a lot of things. When you really start applying scripture, it allows God to move in your life and others,” Guy says.
As he was finishing his degree, he became a volunteer coach Pinewood Christian Academy under local legend Buck Cravey. During Guy’s time as a DOC officer, given the way scripture had started to shape his faith, he became more concerned with helping young people make better choices to stay of prison. Coaching was a way to do it.
“Coaching is certainly a ministry. There is no better opportunity to demonstrate lessons from scripture about character, adversity, and faith. Football gives young men an opportunity to experience so many life lessons,” Guy says.
Guy doesn’t wear his faith on his sleeve. It permeates his entire being. The meek may inherit the earth, but they aren’t going to be on Guy’s offensive line. He is quick to remind players that while he loves them, a lot of times that is tough love.
His first head coaching assignment was at Robert Toombs Christian Academy. The first season, the Crusaders lost 13-12 in the championship game to Thomas Jefferson. Robert Toombs made it back to the GISA Class A State Championship in 2000, only to lose again to Jefferson, 28-26.
Guy’s final two seasons netted what the Crusaders had been battling for. In 2003 and 2004, the Crusaders hoisted GISA Class A State Championship hardware.
Coaches may not say it out loud, but when you reach a certain level of success, you feel you have “arrived”. There is always that college possibility (at least you dream of it), maybe a little speaking fee from Glazier, or a Nike Coach of the Year gig to explain your championship offensive or defensive philosophy. Those are all good things, and great thoughts, but then reality hits: how to get everyone back on the bus, where to eat, checking in, and washing uniforms.
“When we won our first state championship, the next morning I woke up with a headache and still had to get up and mow the grass,” Guy says.
Success certainly can spur coaches to larger classifications and bigger programs. Guy took over at struggling Richmond Hill High School. The team had potential; it just needed the right fit at head coach.
Finishing his Education Specialist degree in exercise science and sports marketing, one of the first things that Guy did was to start renovating the Wildcats’ weight room. One of the keys to Coach Guy’s success has been to create an environment that pushes players to get as strong and as fast as possible.
Two seasons under Guy created a new culture in Richmond Hill that ignited the fan base. In his final two seasons, Guy had two great quarterbacks, Domonique Allen, that went to the Air Force Academy, and 6’5″ Nick Fitzgerald, who is now a tight end at SEC rising power Mississippi State. Besides the two field generals, the Wildcats had a large supporting cast that made them a strong team in Class AA. In Fitzgerald’s senior year, the Wildcats defeated Thomas County Central, marking the first time Richmond Hill ever hosted a playoff game. The game wasn’t the only memorable thing that happened that Guy remembers.
Coming from a private Christian school, Guy did not change one thing about his faith-based approach to coaching. However, public schools often make administrators leery of exercise of the freedom of religion.
“When I got to Richmond Hill, the school powers that be weren’t overly joyed about team prayers after a game. However, one of the people that was not really in my corner on that issue held hands with me and bowed in prayer after we won our playoff game at home,” Guy says.
Richmond Hill was good for Guy, but it was also grueling. Driving 77 miles from Collins (north of Reidsville) to Richmond Hill was rough on him, his wife Carmen of 26 years, and his three boys, Landyn, Tanner, and Jarron.
“I was getting ready to interview with Flower Mound in Texas when the Toombs job came open. God provided that chance for me, and it’s turned out good,” Guy said.
Guy has the Bulldogs working hard in “The Pit”; not just working to be good football players, but also strong young men. His staff works to get the maximum of strong reps in each practice to be ready for game days, but he also keeps an open line of communication and gives players an opportunity for prayer requests.
“We were having requests and a player asked for prayer for his father; his dad had a migraine headache, but he had to go to work anyway. That’s a great example of a life lesson that you can learn from, because someday these players are going to be fathers and they are going to have to make choices to do things when they don’t necessarily feel like it to support their families. This really drives the point home and makes them to better understand the sacrifices people in their lives make for them, and hopefully they appreciate that more,” Guy says.
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Faith, Hope and Tough Love
