Bailey built his own dynasty at Lamar, his alma mater. He led the Tigers to seven consecutive Class 2 state championships from 2011-17 and in 14 seasons, compiled a mark of 151-41. In his championship seasons, Lamar went a combined 98-5 --- 43-0 in the last three years. He stepped down after last season.

Bailey told me if he were younger and still had that energy level, the situation may have been different. Earleywine, an outstanding college softball coach in his own right, understands.

"To rebuild a powerhouse program with all those moving parts takes a tremendous amount of energy," he said. "And when you're not young, energy is not your luxury. So I get it, I totally get it,

"It takes a tremendous toll on you and everyone around you. There's a great cost that goes with it."

There were rumors Bailey was leaving because of a riff with the administration, which includes Earleywine.

Not so.

"I never had a cross word or argument with the superintendent (Larry Lithacum), the athletic director, the principal (Bob James) or anyone else in the administration," Bailey said. "We disagreed on some things and there are a number of things that need to be done differently, in my opinion, to help this program be successful.

"But it was never a "my way or the highway" situation. So those rumors are just not true."

When did he know things were going sideways?

"I think it started at the start of the school year," Bailey said. "It was a pretty rough transition."

This came as no surprise to Earleywine.

"I think it's just a culture shock coming from Lamar, for obvious reasons," he said. "It's way more diverse and there are a lot more moving parts you don't have control of.

"He knew everybody from the mail man to the dog catcher at Lamar and what he said was probably instantly done. But here --- and not that anybody didn't want to do what he wanted done --- but it's just a big wheel. Instead of maybe dealing with one or two people at Lamar,, you have to deal with eight people or 10 here."

Bailey had support of the community, but he also knows this decision will be criticized.

"I know folks are going to say: 'If you only came here for a year, why did you come here at all, that's not fair to the kids,'" he said. "Well, I didn't plan on only being here for a year, we didn't know until we got here.

"But if we hadn't come and I got to the end of my coaching career, I would have always wondered What if? So I'm not sorry I came, now I know."

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EARLYEWINE SAID THE SEARCH for a new head coach will begin immediately. But under the current circumstances, would a proven coach want to come here?

"It's certainly a concern," Earleywine said. "It will add a layer of difficulty to the process, but I still have confidence we're going to be able to attract a good candidate. There are too many young, aspiring, successful coaches out there who are looking to jump to a big program.

"I'm staying optimistic."

Bailey is convinced it won't be a problem.

"People underestimate the arrogance of football coaches," he said. "There will be a younger, more energetic coach who's a better fit for this program. There's somebody out there who can come here and get it going forward.

"The Jeff City Jay football program has a lot to offer to the right person."

It sure seemed they'd found that person in Bailey, because this is a man who gets it.

Bailey picked up a saying from a high school coaching legend in Iowa, Ed Thomas, and Bailey lives by it.

"If I only teach them how to block and tackle," he said, "I've failed them as a coach. I haven't done my job. Obviously, you want to win every game but beyond that, you want them to learn how to be successful young men. Then they apply that to their school work, they apply it to their home life, they apply to their church ... they apply it to their life.

"But if you teach them to be successful young men and you go 0-10, nobody's going to be happy. If you have them go 10-0 or 15-0 and they're screwing up around town, nobody's going to be happy.

"You have to do both, but it's very hard to do. It takes an inclusive effort."

After the Adkins era, the Jays had three head coaches in the next 23 years. That's four in 60 years.

Now, the next coach will be the third in four years and the fourth in five years.

Now, the program has lost its second good coach and great man in five months.

That's a shame.

Chris Leuckel