Leroy head coach Jason Massey won’t get to finish the season with his top-ranked Bears.
Massey, a member of the National Guard, found out Labor Day weekend that he would be deployed in October.
“It came as a little bit of a surprise,” Massey told AL.com on Wednesday. “I guess you always kind of hope that maybe things will change, but we had been hearing rumors. Of course, nothing is confirmed until you get your orders. It’s part of being in the military. You realize that when you join up.”
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Massey is in his 11th year as Leroy’s head coach. He led the Bears to a 13-1 record and the Class 1A state title a year ago. His team is off to a 3-0 start this season, having outscored the competition 115-19. Leroy is idle this week before hosting another unbeaten team, St. Luke’s, on Sept. 29.
Massey said he plans to coach in that game but may be gone before an Oct. 6 game at J.F. Shields. He couldn’t say where he was being deployed to and didn’t know when he might be back.
“Probably at least a year,” he said.
Massey said he’s been in the National Guard for more than 30 years. This is his third deployment, the last coming for seven months during the pandemic.
“It means a lot to me (to serve),” he said. “I came from a military family. My dad was in the Guard for 30 years. I had an uncle and two brothers who served. It’s always been a part of our lives. It’s something bigger than yourself.”
Massey said he planned to be back on the sidelines at Leroy when he returned. In the meantime, he said his assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Chan Lowe, would handle the duties without him. He said his team understood his situation.
“That doesn’t mean they like it,” he said. “Sometimes life throws you curve balls, and you have to deal with it. I told them it’s just like when you have injuries, you have to have a next man up mentality. It’s the same thing here. They need to pull together tighter and trust each other. Everyone has to take a little more responsibility.”
Massey said the Bears lost nine starters from last year’s state championship team but has the talent to make another run this season.
“It’s tough to leave,” he said. “Obviously coming of a state championship season and starting off well this year, we expect to be good again. Not being there and not seeing the kids will be difficult. Luckily with the internet and Hudl and things like that, I’m still going to try to be as involved as I can be from a distance. Maybe I can see some things that will help these guys still continue toward their goal.”
Massey and wife Melanie have three children, the youngest in high school.
“It’s kind of the same way with my family as it is with the team,” he said. “They know the possibility is always out there. It doesn’t mean they have to like it, but they will support me in what I do, and we will get through it.”
Massey is the second head coach in the state of Alabama to be deployed this season. In August, Jackson-Olin head coach Jamaal Bess announce he was being deployed overseas.
Massey is 81-46 in 11 years at Leroy, including a 19-7 playoff record.