The Pike County and Ariton communities are mourning the death of Taylor Polk, a young coach who “was so loved by so many.”

Polk, a Demopolis native who was a long-snapper for Troy University, was an assistant football and baseball coach at Ariton as well as the b-team basketball coach. He taught special education for Ariton for seven years. He also was the assistant baseball coach and football coach at Charles Henderson from 2017-2018 before serving as interim head baseball coach.

“(When) I hired coach Polk, one thing that stood out to me about him was his willingness to do anything for anyone no matter what it was, whether in his professional career in special education or in his coaching career,” said Josh Herring, Ariton principal. “I hired him and needed a b-team basketball coach and he said, ‘I don’t know a lot about basketball but I’ll learn it.’ That’s what he did, he got under some of the best like Coach Brett and Terry Goodson and learned from them and worked hard. He was always dependable, always on time and always there.”

Herring said Polk’s love for his students and athletes was evident. “He had that unique ability to put himself second and always put others first. In this life we have so many adults that struggle with putting others first and he had no struggle with that. He was willing to do anything for everybody and his abilities as a person bled over into his profession as a teacher and a coach. His willingness to be a servant and to help made him good at everything he did.”

And it is also the reason he had such an impact on the lives of his students, co-workers and friends. “The impact he’s had on the diverse population of athletes to students to the kids he served – I’m at a loss for words to even describe that impact. I couldn’t say enough about him,” Herring said. “He never wanted to let someone down, he wanted to please you. Whatever the circumstances were he would always rise to the challenge. That alone made him so dependable and valuable to Ariton.”

Former Ariton football star Ian Senn, now playing for Troy, talked about what Polk meant to he and his teammates.

“Coach Polk wasn’t just a coach to me, he was one of my best friends and I think I could say that for most of my teammates,” Senn said.  “There wasn’t a kid that Coach Polk came in touch with that didn’t feel loved. Practice was never boring with him there and serious moments weren’t serious for long. There aren’t enough words to describe the impact he made on my life and the people at Ariton. He will be forever be loved and missed.”

Ariton head football coach Steven Kilcrease also talked of Polk’s impact.

“We are heartbroken. He was such a hard working coach,” Kilcrease said. “Last year’s team doesn’t advance to the quarterfinals if not for Taylor Polk. We knew shortly after he was hired that he had that IT factor. He was just a genuine, caring person. More importantly he had a huge love for these kids and they knew it!

Tributes to Polk’s impact in both communities were offered throughout social media on Saturday morning.

“Coach Polk was so loved by so many! Please pray hard for his family, students, friends, coworkers, and all of those who he made an impact on,” wrote Eden Lunn

“Our hearts are shattered,” wrote Cassidy Smartt with her husband and CHHS head baseball coach Chase Smartt. “Polk was such an amazing guy and we are so thankful for the time we have shared with him.”

“Taylor made a difference in the lives of many kids including three of mine when he was at CHHS,” wrote Elly Reeves. “He truly cared about them and they felt it. He will be remembered by our family forever.”

“Taylor was so very loved and admired. Even though he was such a young teacher when he was at Charles Henderson, he was a role model for other teachers,” wrote Lynn Melton. “He truly was one of the best.”

“Taylor Polk was not only a wonderful teacher for our son, he was a great role model to learn from,” wrote Connie McCrary.

Polk is survived by his wife, Katie, and son Judge.

“Through this unimaginable experience I have seen what God does in a community,” Katie Polk wrote on Facebook. “To anyone and everyone who has reached out to me or our family and to those who flooded us in prayers, thank you from the very bottom of my heart. To our Purple Cat family, Taylor loved his job and his students and everyone he worked with making you all irreplaceable to me for making him so happy. I rejoice in the fact that I will see Taylor every single day in the face and actions of our little boy, and I find peace and comfort knowing his body is completely restored. This is not the end for us, because I know I will see Taylor again and we will have a true eternity together. In the coming days, your prayers are more than appreciated for us.”