DAPHNE, Alabama — Bayside Academy head football Coach Phil Lazenby has been named the Alabama Football Coaches Association Class 3A Coach of the Year. The award is voted on by High School football coaches around the state.

Lazenby led the Admirals to their first undefeated regular season and first region championship in 2011 and will be recognized at the ALFCA annual clinic in Montgomery, Jan. 26-28.

“I want to say, ‘Thanks,’ to the coaches who voted for me,” Lazenby said from his field-house office after conducting an in-school football clinic for middle-school and younger players. “When your peers vote for you, it means a lot. Means a lot to me. But it’s not just me. I’ve been blessed with great kids and great assistant coaches and an administration and parents that support the program. The players worked hard and my assistant coaches had them ready to play.

“You know when someone wins an award like this, I think it’s really a reflection of everybody involved. My wife (Tara) was very excited for me and, of course, I can’t begin to say how much she helps me with all of this. It takes a team. Coaches’ wives and families have to put up with a lot. We spend a whole lot of time devoted to work.”

This season his work and “everybody involved” led the Admirals to their first undefeated regular season and first region title. In 2010, they broke into the Top-10 Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) Class 3A poll for the first time at No. 10 and advanced to the 2010 quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Lazenby arrived as head coach in 2007. In 2008 he led the Admirals to their first winning season and in 2009 to their first playoff appearance.

Bayside junior running back Joe Stassen, the Admirals leading rusher this past year, said Lazenby was deserving of the recognition.

“Yes sir, we’re really happy to see him get the award,” Stassen said. “He’s done a lot since he came and taken us a long way. He’s a very experienced coach and does a great job of getting us ready to play. We work hard. He expects it and makes us expect it from ourselves. We know that he knows the game very well and we all respect that a lot. He is also a great motivator out there. He pushes us to do our best and to reach our full potential.”

Lazenby was also recognized in 1997 with the statewide ASWA coach of the year award when he was at Benjamin-Russell High. With many years as an assistant, including both defensive and offensive coordinator positions, he took his first head coaching job in 1991 at Guntersville. He also led Southside Gadsden before Ben-Russell. In all, 36 years logged in the trade.

“It’s a career that demands sacrifice from so many people,” Lazenby said. “But I also think that’s why it’s so satisfying when you do succeed. It’s a feeling you share with the rest of your team and family. You have to tough out the hard times, though too. But again, when everybody’s in it together, you weather those times a whole lot better. Of course, you know I’ve been at this awhile. And you know I preach hard work to the kids because I know it pays off. Not always right away. But if you do your best, you will feel better about yourself. That, I do believe.”

Lazenby is actively 123-56 as a head coach.