Longtime Vanguard coach Jim Haley dies at 74

One of the most influential men in the history of high school boys basketball in Florida has died.

Jim Haley, the longtime head coach at Vanguard and the man who started the Kingdom of the Sun, passed away on Sunday morning. He was 74.

Funeral arrangements are pending and Ocala.com will have information when they are finalized.

Haley, who retired in 2009, started the nationally recognized Kingdom of the Sun tournament at Vanguard in 1974 and won three state championships.

He totaled four trips to the final four, 12 district titles and 15 playoff appearances, and retired as one of seven coaches in Florida to win at least 600 games when he retired.

Many offered their memories of the man known as "The Chief," online after hearing of his passing.

"A true legend in the great state of Florida and Marion County," said former Forest/Dunnellon basketball coach Steve Powell, who was a standout player at DHS during his playing days. "Words cannot express what he has done for me and my family. Coach Haley found me in the Round Runner program like so many at the time needing a place to play basketball. Forever grateful."

Haley excelled in getting players exposure to the next level with his Kingdom of the Sun tournament, which began in 1974.

"His biggest impact was helping kids get out of Ocala and get opportunities to further their education at the collegiate level," former Vanguard coach Phillip Small said prior to Vanguard naming its court after Haley in December 2016. "He helped any kid he could, even if they did not go to Vanguard … the Kingdom is still a very strong brand in high school basketball circles around the country. We have him to thank for that. He built it. I wanted to do something that ensured he would be remembered."

An administrator at a rival school scoffed at the idea a 16-team event would work in Florida, but given the blessing of former Vanguard principal Leon Rogers, it was a go.

The first Kingdom saw Frank Johnson, a future NBA player and coach, led unbeaten Lake Weir to a win over Daytona Beach Mainland before a packed house.

Back in 2009 before Haley's final home game, Rogers, who died earlier this year, offered this comment: "Haley truly was a pioneer. It took a long time for the people he was playing to catch up to his style of using the full-court press and fast breaks. Back then, teams used to just walk the ball up and play zone, but not Haley. His teams played exciting basketball."

Haley was a father figure to many.

"He never gave up on a kid," said longtime Kingdom of the Sun Executive Director Bob Murphy, prior to Haley's retirement from coaching. "He was always 100 percent behind them. They all knew if they needed anything that they could call him and they'd help him."

The best example of this would be the case of Travis Mays, a VHS standout and first round draft pick of the Sacramento Kings.

“He had a vision that no one around here had ever seen,” said Mays in 2009, now women's head coach at SMU. “He sold that thing and it really took off to great heights. When I was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the University of Texas, it was the first chance I ever had publicly to thank Coach Haley for all that he did for me. I choked up. I basically told him that he saved my life. He was always in the gym and he opened the gym for me and so many people. He lived basketball."

No matter where Haley's name was mentioned it was looked upon fondly.

"In all of my travels and even at this level people ask me how coach Haley is doing. He's meant a lot to so many people," said former Vanguard standout Dale Osbourne, who at the time (2009 when interviewed) was coaching with the Utah Flash and is now an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Mike Losito and Bobby Kennen had firsthand knowledge of what Haley would do to help opposing players.

"It didn't matter if you played for Haley or not, he went out of his way to help you.

"He promoted me like I was his player because he truly cared about helping kids," said Losito, who was the Star-Banner Player of the Year as a senior at Belleview and later went on to coach the Rattlers. "He was a great mentor and more importantly a great friend."

Added Kennen, a prep standout at Forest High and current associate head coach at North Florida" "He was truly an amazing man who poured his life into young people and the game."

Haley also made it a point to help other coaches in support of the game he loved.

"Had the honor of working with him at the FACA basketball clinics for a number of years," said Ron Allan, a former Lecanto hoops coach and FACA Hall of Fame member. "He was a great man. (He had) passion for the sport and willingness to help younger coaches gain knowledge."

Haley's opponents greatly respected him.

"I met coach Haley when I was 14 and competed against him as a player and a coach," said Colt McDowell, a prep standout at Leesburg and current head coach at The Villages. "I have so much respect for what he did for basketball in the state of Florida."

His coaching tree in Florida included several coaches who went on to win state championships at other programs.

"He had a huge impact on my coaching career and was a pioneer in this state in terms of his tournament and bringing national teams and players to Florida," said Anthony Long, who won multiple state titles at Gainesville High School and also had a powerhouse program at Orlando Dr. Phillips.

At the end of the day, Haley was all about promoting the game he loved.

"To the day he died, Jim Haley campaigned for the good of a game that exploded in popularity in his heyday," said Buddy Collings, senior sports writer at the Orlando Sentinel who worked with Haley on numerous all-tournament and all-state award lists. "He showed everybody how it could be done. Jim's impact on Florida hoops is immeasurable."

Jim Haley By The Numbers

3: Number of state titles claimed by Haley at VHS and number of times that the Knights were ranked among the top 50 in the nation under Haley. ... 4: Number of final four appearances for Haley at Vanguard. ... 5: Number of No. 1-ranked nationally teams that Haley-coached teams faced during his career at Vanguard. The five top-ranked teams were Baltimore (Md.) Dubar in Kentucky's King of Bluegrass, Soutwest Macon (Ga.), Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony's and Elizabeth City (N.J.) St. Benedict's in the Kingdom of the Sun and Oak Hill (Va.) Academy at VHS. ... 12: Number of district titles for Haley at Vanguard. ... 13: Number of players under Haley that scored 1,000 points or more during their VHS career. ... 15: Number of playoff appearances for Haley at Vanguard. ... 17: Number of times Vanguard and Haley faced Forest in the district tournament. The Knights won 12 of those meetings. ... 20: Number of state playoff victories for Haley at Vanguard. ... 32: Number of state playoff games that Haley coached in for Vanguard. ... 56: Number of wins for Haley over rival Forest. ... 133: Most points scored by a Haley-coached team in one game. This was against Starke Bradford in 1988.

Timeline of Jim Haley's career

1973-74

* On Nov. 30, Haley coached his first game for Vanguard. The Knights fell on the road to Orlando Oak Ridge 81-69.

* On Dec. 7, Haley earned his first victory as coach of Vanguard in a 75-64 triumph over Lake Weir. The game was also the first for Haley at the VHS gym.

1974-75

*Haley started Kingdom of the Sun boys basketball tournament. Led by future NBA player and coach Frank Johnson, Lake Weir knocked off three larger schools in four games and won the tournament with a victory over Daytona Beach Mainland in the finals

1975-76

*Vanguard made the Kingdom of the Sun finals, but fell short to two-time tournament winner DeLand and future Marquette guard Oliver Lee, 55-52.

*On Feb. 28, Vanguard claimed its first district title under Haley with a 55-50 win over rival Forest. Ingram Purvis scored 23 points to pace the Knights.

* The Knights lost to Leesburg 72-50 in the school's first-ever playoff game.

1976-77

* Carlos Clarke scored at the buzzer to lift DeLand past Vanguard 76-75 in the finals of the Kingdom of the Sun.

1977-78

*Vanguard, Class 3A's No. 1 team, defeated Miami Central, Class 4A's No. 1 team in the Kingdom of the Sun

* On Feb. 25, Purvis scored 22 points to help Vanguard past Forest 62-50 to win the District 3A-5 title.

* On Feb. 28, Haley earned his 100th career win when the Knights knocked off Starke Bradford. The game, a 72-54 contest, took place in the Region 3 finals.

On Mar. 4, Purvis scored 27 points and the Knights made a pair of late free throws and knocked off Rockledge 66-64 in the Section 2 finals.

* After downing West Palm Beach North Shore and Derek Harper in the state semis, Vanguard won its first state title by knocking off Marianna, 67-62. Purvis and Kenny Vaughns combined for 37 points in the championship game.

* Vanguard ended the 1977-78 season at 33-2 and was ranked No. 17 in the USA.

1978-79

* Led by co-MVPs Vaughns and Zeb Howell, Vanguard defeated Clay 52-47 in the Kingdom finals.

* In a battle of top-ranked Class 3A teams, Vanguard knocked off Green Cove Springs Clay 36-32 in the sectionals.

* Vanguard defeated Cocoa Beach in a battle of 3A's No.1 vs. No. 2 teams in the Region finals.

* Haley led Vanguard past Jacksonville Bishop Kenney 73-61 in the state semis.

*Haley and Vanguard claimed the Class 3A state title once again with a 62-52 win in the finals over Bartow.

* The Knights finished the season at 32-3 and ranked No. 19 in the USA for the 78-79 season.

1979-80

* Alonzo Allen and Lakeland routed Vanguard 81-57 in the Kingdom finals.

* Vanguard rolled past Gainesville and Orlando Bishop Moore to make the Class 3A final four for the third consecutive season, but lost to North Shore in the state semis.

1981-82

* Mike Smith hit the game-winner at the buzzer to lead Vanguard to a 38-37 win over Stuart Martin County. This was one of three Kingdom finals to feature a buzzer-beater and there wouldn't be another for 26 years. Victor Johnson earned tournament MVP honors for the Knights.

* On Feb. 27, Haley earned his 200th career win when the Knights knocked off Forest 55-48 in the district finals behind 15 points from Dale Osbourne.

* With Osbourne leading the way, the Knights stormed through the Class 3A playoffs with wins over Eastside and Kissimmee Osceola.

* In the state semifinals, Vanguard trailed Milton by seven with 1 1/2 minutes left, but rallied to tie and went on to win 62-60 in overtime behind 28 points by Osbourne.

* Vanguard defeated Miami Edison 52-49 to win the Class 3A state championship. That same year, the Knights' girls teams also claimed the state title and the front of the VHS hoops program read "Double Trouble." It was the first time that both the boys and girls teams from the same school claimed state titles in the same season. The VHS-Edison game was a battle of the 1-2-ranked teams in Class 3A. It would be 25 years until a county team would be involved in another 1 vs. 2 game (Trinity Catholic-P.K. Yonge).

* The Knights finished the season at 29-8 and ranked No. 49 in the USA for the 81-82 season.

1982-83

* Darryl Gresham and Decatur (Ga.) High defeated Vanguard 52-49 in the Kingdom finals.

* On Feb. 26, Jim Wilson scored 26 points and Vanguard upset Forest 67-55 at the FHS to claim another district title.

* Vanguard lost to Gainesville Buchholz 72-62 in the opening round of the playoffs.

1985-86

* Led by 22 points from future NBA first round pick and Texas star Travis Mays, Vanguard knocked off Gainesville 77-50 to win the district title.

* Vanguard lost to Kissimmee Osceola 66-63 in the opening round of the playoffs.

1986-87

*On Feb. 4, Haley earned his 300th win when the Knights knocked off Gainesville High.

1987-88

* Led by Robert McKie, Miami Carol City knocked off Vanguard 57-56 in the Kingdom finals.

* On Feb. 27, Paced by 20 points from Vernon Pinkney, Vanguard downed Forest 62-59 to win another district title.

* Vanguard earned its first playoff win since the 1982 Class 3A state title with a 101-91 triumph over Orlando Jones. The 101 points are a school record for most points in the state playoffs.

* In the first-ever televised prep basketball game in the Sunshine State, Vanguard fell to rival Bartow 71-62 in the sectional finals on Mar. 5.

1988-89

* On Feb. 28, Eric Dailey scored 31 points and Vanguard won its second straight district title with a 66-64 victory over Gainesville.

* Vanguard got past Kissimmee Osceola 87-80 in the first round of the playoffs.

* In another postseason rematch, Vanguard fell to Bartow 104-88. Dailey scored 36 points, but Patrick Sams knocked in 43 for Bartow.

1989-90

* Vanguard won its 10th district title under Haley, but lost 67-59 to Osceola in the opening round of the state playoffs.

1991-92

* On Jan. 31, Haley earned his 400th victory when the Knights knocked off Forest.

1993-94

* Micah Marsh's put on a free-throw shooting clinic as Alcoa (Tenn.) defeated Vanguard in the finals of the Kingdom. The Knights haven't made the Kingdom finals since.

* Bernard Smith, Vanguard's all-time leading scorer, combined with Daunte Culpepper for 33 points to help the Knights get past Gainesville High 52-51 in the District 4A-4 title game.

* Vanguard got past Jacksonville Raines and Milton in the regional playoffs, before it lost to Springfield Rutherford in the elite eight.

1994-95

* Vanguard was shocked in the district finals by Forest.

* The Knights are eliminated in the opening round of the regional playoffs by Jacksonville Raines.

1996-97

* Vanguard knocked off Lake Weir to claim the Colt Christmas Classic.

* On Feb. 14, Haley earned his 500th win when the Knights knocked off Gainesville High.

* Todd Davis scored 24 points, but Kenyatta Dix responded with 43, as Buchholz knocked off Vanguard 84-82 to win the district title.

* After it knocked off Jacksonville Wolfson on the road in the first round of the playoffs, Vanguard lost a close 70-67 contest at Milton in the region semis.

1997-98

* Vanguard is ranked No. 1 in the Class 5A poll to start the season and won its first two games of the year.

* On Dec. 5, Belleview held off Vanguard 47-46 in a five-overtime thriller.

* Vanguard got revenge on the Rattlers with an 86-80 victory in four overtimes. The nine combined overtimes are the most ever played by two teams against one another in the same year in state history.

2002-03

* Vanguard earned the Tim Brinkley Memorial Tournament title with a win over host North Marion.

* One week after it won the Brinkley, Vanguard once again knocked off North Marion in the finals of the Dunnellon Tournament.

* On Feb. 22, Jordan Carrier scored 26 points to help Vanguard past Port Orange Atlantic 81-73 in the district finals.

* On Feb. 27, Vanguard got its last playoff victory under Haley, an 88-72 win over Palatka behind Aaron Ball's 28 points

* Vanguard's run came to an end in the regional semifinals with a loss to New Port Richey Ridgewood.

2003-04

* On Feb. 21, Vanguard fell to Gainesville 56-55 in the district finals. The Knights were then eliminated in the opening round of the regional playoffs by Tallahassee Rickards.

2004-05

On Jan. 21, Haley earned his 600th win when the Knights knocked off Belleview.

2007-08

* Vanguard dropped Lake Weir to win the Brinkley Memorial.

* Haley earned his 650th win when Vanguard knocked off Forest in the District 5A-4 quarterfinals.

2008-09

* Haley wins his final home game as head coach of the Knights, as they down rival North Marion.

* Haley coaches his final game of his storied career, as the Knights fall to Gainesville Eastside at Lake City in the district quarterfinals.

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