In pursuit of a legacy: Young Hayti coach follows in her legendary father's steps

First-year Hayti High School volleyball coach McKenzie Putman speaks with her team during a timeout in a jamboree at Delta (Deering) High School last month.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

McKenzie Putman had it made professionally to start her career in education.

The 2018 Kennett High School graduate was teaching high school math at her alma mater and could have put her life and career on cruise control, wearing black and yellow for the next few decades. However, what you don’t understand is who Putman is deep down inside, which explains why she remains an Indian but is wearing black and gold, not black and yellow.

“I love Hayti,” Putman said, “and I love Hayti Athletics.”

OK, here is the backstory, but many, because her father was a legendary coach and educator throughout the Bootheel, probably are aware of who Putman is, and why she is so driven in her pursuit this fall.

Putman, who is in her first season as the varsity head coach of the Hayti volleyball program, as well as in her first year teaching junior high math at the school, went to Hayti Schools until she was 12, before moving to Kennett.

“I was born and raised in Hayti,” Putman explained. “My father is David Gilmore, so I grew up a Hayti fan, and I grew up being a Hayti student.”

First-year Hayti High School volleyball coach McKenzie Putman enjoys a light moment with her players during a jamboree at Delta (Deering) High School last month. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

OK, that explains everything.

Putman’s father spent time as a football coach at Hayti (two stints) and Caruthersville, before leaving coaching to serve as the principal at Kennett.

He amassed a career mark of 85-21 at the two schools and led the Indians to a MSHSAA Class 1 state runner-up spot in 2002. Tragically, he passed away at the age of 44 from cancer in the summer of 2016 before McKenzie’s junior year in high school.

Like her father, Putman may have left Hayti at one point in her journey, but the people and community of Hayti never left her – or her father’s - hearts.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go back and give back to that community,” Putman said of Hayti. “To coach, and to have an impact at the school, the same way my dad did.”

McKenzie Putman (center), then a cheerleader at Kennett High School, takes part in a ceremony at Hayti High School to honor her late father, former Hayti coach and educator, David Gilmore, following his death in 2016. (Semoball file photo)

What Putman walked into was a challenge, but she knew that going in.

The Indians haven’t enjoyed a winning volleyball season since Putman was playing for Kennett in her freshman year in high school (2014).

Hayti won just one match last year and has dropped each of its four matches so far this season.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” Putman said recently. “But really, this group of girls is tight. They are friends on and off the court.

“Their communication and team bond are their strengths.”

Another “strength” is that their coach has the utmost belief in her athletes, regardless of the scoreboard.

“They know what we can do,” Putman said of her players, “and we have set our standard. It’s their goal to play at that standard, no matter who we’re playing.”

Hayti will visit Charleston (0-4) today at 5 p.m. and will host Caruthersville (0-4) on Tuesday at 5 p.m., before visiting Campbell (3-6-4) on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

“We don’t dip to anybody in any other competition,” Putman said. “We play at a level of who we are, and we know who we are based on what we have done in practice. They know that is what they can do and that is the level we play at.

“I’ve told these girls that I love Hayti, and I love Hayti Athletics, but I’m tired of hearing about the boy’s athletics.

“We have girl athletes, and these girls can do just as great of things as the boys can, and that is my goal.”

That is the daughter of David Gilmore speaking. It wouldn’t be prudent to doubt that Hayti volleyball will find success eventually.