Mack Fanning remembers his first season at Hickory High School in 1968 well.
He thought it would be his only season after taking over the football program and winning just one football game.
But instead of sending Fanning on his way, Hickory kept him around for another year and then another. That turned into a lifetime profession for Fanning who was recently honored by the Mississippi Association of Coaches for 50 years of service at the organization’s banquet this past week.
Fanning laughs when he thinks about getting started in coaching.
“I surely didn’t think I would make it 50 years,” Fanning said. “I didn’t think I would make it two years after that first year when we won one game in football. It’s been a great 50 years. I’m sure we have lost some games that we should have won and won some games that we should have lost over the years.”
Fanning, who also assisted legendary coach Richard Harris in basketball, was also the baseball coach at Hickory. After that first season, Hickory went 3-8 the next year and then 5-4 the third year. The next two years, the Bulldogs went 9-1-1 and then 10-0-1.
“Things progressed after that first year,” Fanning said. “That first year, we had seven returning football players and the quarterback broke his arm on Labor Day so we were down to six players as the year progressed. After we went 5-4, I never had another losing season after that.”
Fanning credits several people with his early success but sends a lot of credits Harris with helping him in those early years.
“I was a privilege to work with Richard Harris,” Fanning said. “He coached me in high school and I got the chance to go back and work for him. Coach Harris taught me how to win. He taught the basics and was a big believer in that and that always stuck with me.”
Fanning, who has been a volunteer assistant at Newton County the last few seasons, says he is officially hanging up his coaching hat. His son Mark, who recently won the Class 3A state championship at St. Andrews, has a son that will be moving to the seventh grade and will begin playing in the Saints’ program.
“I guess I’ll just be watching him play now,” Fanning said. “I guess 50 years is long enough for me.”
