Jay Jeffcoat, noted Charles Henderson High School and Troy University football coach, has passed away.

Jeffcoat, who was a staple in the Troy sports community dating  back to the 70s, was known for leading Charles Henderson to the only state title in the school’s history in 1980 and was a member of the coaching staff on Troy University’s 1984 national championship football team, among other accomplishments.

Dan Smith, former sports editor for The Messenger, covered Jeffcoat during the Trojans’ 1984 title run and remembered him fondly.

“He was of course extremely well respected as an offensive football mind, leading Charles Henderson to their only state championship in football in 1980 and also he was the offensive coordinator for the 1984 (Troy) national championship team,” Smith said. “More importantly, he was one of the strongest Christian men that I have ever known. And in that position as a head coach in high school and offensive coordinator in college, he touched a lot of lives and was extremely well respected by the players and coaches and fans. He was a great man.”

Before his coaching stint at Charles Henderson, Jeffcoat served as the offensive line coach at Troy from 1976-78. And after five seasons at the high school level with Charles Henderson, Jeffcoat returned to Troy as an offensive coordinator.

During the Trojans’ 1984 season, Jeffcoat’s wishbone offense was among the most productive offenses in the Gulf South Conference.

Jeffcoat died Thursday.

But his imprint on Troy athletics will surely endure several lifetimes.