Putnam returns to Sylvania

Brant Berry | PrepsNet

After leading the Hazel Green Trojans for five seasons head coach Matt Putnam is going home.   Home to become the next head coach of DeKalb County’s Sylvania High School Rams.

Putnam took over a struggling Hazel Green program who had only won three contests in the four seasons prior to his arrival.  He also leaves Madison County as only the second coach in Trojans history to leave the HGHS sidelines with an overall winning record at the school.

“We would like to thank coach Putnam for his hard work over the past five years and we wish him and his family the best as they take this opportunity to move back home to DeKalb County.  The culture has certainly improved at Hazel Green over the past five years with the work ethic, booster support, community involvement, and upgrades to the facilities. We have things headed in the right direction and we look forward to keep moving forward with our next coach. We will start our search immediately to find the right person to maintain this momentum and progress at Hazel Green. We have several good players returning and should have a chance to compete in our region.”   Said Hazel Green Principal Darrell Long in a press release.

Prior to taking over at Hazel Green, Putnam served as a defensive assistant at Buckhorn for six seasons.

I want to wish the #trojanfam11y the best. I’m truly blessed to have been your coach.

— Coach Putnam (@MattPutnam1) January 26, 2015

Putnam will be taking over a Rams program that made it through the playoff door in 2014 but finished with a 4-7 record under former head coach Roger Haynes.  Haynes resigned at seasons end, after two years and an 8-13 record, to accept a position on Scott Mansell’s staff at Hueytown.