Hanford High’s 5-year head football coach resigns

When Steve Graff stepped down from his Chiawana High School head football coaching job on Tuesday, it sent shock waves throughout the Mid-Columbia Conference.

But it wasn’t long before word got out that Brett Jay, head coach at Hanford High School, also is leaving.

Talk about aftershocks.

While Graff retiring at age 58 may not come as a total surprise to local fans, Jay’s departure is a bombshell.

He’s just 35, and his Falcon teams have been 25-25 over his five seasons, with two regional playoff appearances the last two years.

And he did that after taking over a program that was 0-10 the year before he arrived.

But when you listen to him, you understand.

“It’s just timing,” Jay said Wednesday in a phone interview. “I’ve been here five years. We’ve chipped away and gotten better each year. I’ve been involved in football as a coach since I was 19 and a volunteer assistant.”

Time to step away

One thing good coaches do is listen and learn. That has happened to Jay over the years.

“I talked to experienced guys involved in football, and they said you’ll know when it’s time to step away,” Jay said. “It’s time. It’s time to take a big, deep breath.”

A reset, if you will.

Hanford athletic director Josh Jelinek said his first formal conversation with Jay was Monday.

“We had talked about being a football coach and the stresses that come throughout the season,” said Jelinek. “I was a little taken aback. I’d thought I’d get a second year (as an athletic director) with him. But we thanked him for everything he’s done. We tried to talk him out of it.

“There are no hard feelings,” Jelinek continued. “If he ever choose to come back, we’d welcome him back with open arms.”

Jay has been a head football coach for 12 years. He does a great job of turning struggling programs around.

Finley grad and coach

The 2002 River View High School graduate coached at his alma mater for six seasons, turning around a struggling Panthers program with a 43-21, with three state playoff appearances.

In 2014, he was hired by Monroe High, stepping in to rebuild a struggling program.

He turned it around in one season, going 7-3.

The Hanford job became open after the season, and Jay and his wife — both Tri-City area natives — found the job irresistible and a chance to come back home. He got it.

Jay’s offensive system has kicked into high gear at Hanford, with the Falcons having the MCC’s top offensive unit the past two seasons.

Junior quarterback Easton Wise-Hyde led the MCC in passing yardage this past season, as did Garrett Horner in 2018.

It didn’t come without sacrifice.

Graff talked about the long hours, the year-round work, that it takes to build and maintain a strong football program.

Jay agrees.

Year-round job

“Programs like Kamiakin, Chiawana, if you’re trying to take them down, you can’t miss a beat,” said Jay. “You have to work year round. But I love that stuff.

“I love football. I love everything about it. It’s just a good time to part ways. Don’t get me wrong. It’s tough to do so. Very difficult,” he said.

He insists he’s not eyeing another move.

“I’m being honest. I’m not looking for a job,” said Jay.

Jelinek has no hard timeline to fill the opening.

“If there was a goal it’d be March 1, but that is not set in concrete,” said Jelinek.

Hanford High practices and advice

Attending a Hanford practice was interesting.

Coaches and players would get their work done, gather together at the end of practice, where Jay and his assistants would offer words of advice and encouragement.

Then, at least three to six players — this happened every practice — would come up to Jay and shake his hand and thank him.

Never seen that before (although I have seen that at Pasco High practices this year with head coach Leon Wright-Jackson).

“We all start with relationships,” says Jay, who will continue to teach at Hanford High.

He says he’ll miss the daily work.

“Football is fun. A lot of fun. I enjoy the process,” Jay said. “Nothing is better than being in a playoff game, you win and go on. Rivalry wins are always great. And I love the day-to-day grind, working on getting better.”

And when he’s ready to go again, he won’t hesitate to get back into football. It’s in his blood.

“I don’t see myself getting away from football,” Jay admits.

But for now, he feels he’s leaving Hanford in a good situation.

“The building (at Hanford) is full of good coaches,” he said.

This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM.