Last football season, JJ Hutson was always with the Yellow Jacket, even from a distance.
“They brought my football jersey out on the field while I was up in Colorado,” Hutson said.
This season, the Lebanon junior is back on the sidelines. He will be trading in his jersey for a coach pullover.
“I don’t want to be called coach Hutson or anything, but some people do just for fun,” Hutson said.
It’s all jokes now, but in reality, Coach Hutson seems to be his calling.
“Coaching is one of those things where I mean you know you just have to have a passion for people and JJ has that,” said Lebanon Head Football Coach Will Christian.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about that a lot,” Hutson said. “Going to college for maybe sports medicine and considering coaching discuss. See if I can coach some of my friends out here.”
He doesn’t hold back when coaching his friends on the squad.
“He’ll tell you when you are messing up or when you are not doing great,” said Lebanon junior Evan Ogle.
But more than anything, he brings out the best in his team.
“[JJ is] a great person to be around because he’s a great mentor, a great friend to have so the energy is always great with him,” Ogle said.
“He’s a really good morale coach, a team motivator,” said Lebanon junior Rhett Rhoades.
If Hutson’s drive to contribute to his team doesn’t give the Yellow Jackets that extra push on game days, then not much will.
“His presence, is uplifting,” Christian said. “I think it also just shows all of us how fortunate we are.”
“Makes you want to do better, like for yourself,” Ogle said. “Knowing that you don’t know when your next opportunity is going to be and when your last opportunity is going to be, so you want to take everything to its fullest.”
Coach Hutson’s debut will be at Lebanon’s home opener against Webb City, Friday, August 30.
