Jeff Moeller, sports correspondent

Jay Hires’s cross country career at Richmond Hill has circled back home, and he certainly holds a unique perspective due to his history at the school. 

Hires was a cross country runner for current cross country coach Levi Sybert, and he is the first runner to be a coach on Sybert’s staff. The 2012 grad also played basketball and was a member of the Wildcats’ golf team. 

Sybert didn’t hesitate to bring his former runner on board.

“Jay has been a great hire for the school,” said Sybert. “It is a full-circle moment for me to actually be coaching with a kid that I coached earlier. He truly appreciates the athletes and students and has put tons of time and effort into it,  works to improve his practice and experiences through all the schools that he has been through and coaching endeavors.”

“It’s been really cool to have him with us, that’s for sure.”

For Hires, sports has always been a family affair. 

His father, Jimmy, was a legendary boys’ basketball coach at Richmond Hill, who won three state championships and recorded nearly 700 wins for the Wildcats. His sister, Kala, was a 1,000-point scorer in basketball and was a softball standout. She also is the head girls’ basketball coach at Wayne County High School, and has surpassed the career 200-win total there.

Hires didn’t play in college, but he did receive his bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern and a master’s and specialist degree from Valdosta State. But he has certainly appreciated and relished his family’s legacy.

“I am proud of what my dad has accomplished,” said Hires. “I couldn’t dream about doing as much as he did. My sister is doing a great job, and I am very proud of her.

“But I have my own expectations for myself.”

Hires has had his share of success stories that have tugged at his heart.

“There was a boy at Long that wanted to play basketball, but he wasn’t totally sure he wanted to do it,” remembered Hires. “He did and was a walk-on in college and got a scholarship.

“There also was a boy at Liberty who never ran before, but he talked about coming out. He took it seriously and went on to run in college.

“Both of them thanked me for my help, and that really meant something to me.”

Hires saw the chance to shorten his travel from his Richmond Hill home when a mathematics teaching job opened at high school last year. He had been teaching at the Bradwell Institute. Liberty County, and Long County, the latter where he was an assistant coach for boys’ basketball and head coach for the girls’ program.

He also coached cross country at Liberty, and it proved to be a worthwhile venture.

“Their cross-county coach was stepping down,” recalled Hires. “I saw it as a good opportunity because they didn’t have a lot of runners in the program. I found some runners, expanded the program, and we ended up going to states.”

Still, the allure to return to his roots was overwhelming.

“I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to return home, “ said Hires. “We have a young daughter, and it was a long drive with teaching and coaching. It has worked out well.”

Hires is also grateful to coach under Sybert.

“Coach Sybert always brings a lot of enthusiasm,” said Hires. “He has a great knowledge of the sport.

He also has done a tremendous job building the program to where we won a team championship, and we have a lot of people running.”

In addition, Hires is also an assistant for the girls’ basketball program. Head Girls’ Coach Sarah Jones has been mindful of Hires’ diligent approach. 

“He’s been a great addition to our program,” said Jones. “He’s very knowledgeable and highly invested. He really will do any and everything needed to make sure the girls are as successful as possible. 

“He comes from a rich history of Richmond Hill basketball with his dad coaching three state championship teams at Richmond Hill and Jay playing basketball at RHHS, so he wants to continue that and pour into the program.”

Keeping his family contributions in mind, Hires plans to continue to blaze his own trail.

“I have my own individual coaching style,” said Hires. “I always have had my own expectations, and I can’t compare my own to others.

“With my family, people may expect me to have some big shoes to fill.  But I prefer my own shoe to fit a little bit better.”