Lafayette coach Brady Cairns named Mississippi Coach of the Year

Brady Cairns’ selection as Mississippi Association of Coaches boys cross country Coach of the Year gave Lafayette County School District a statewide win that reached beyond one sport. The honor recognized the kind of work that usually happens out of view, in a program built on consistency, conditioning and daily improvement.

The district’s live feed marked the achievement with a direct message: “Congratulations, Coach Brady Cairns. Cairns was selected as the MAC Coach of the Year for Boys’ Cross Country.” The Oxford Eagle’s June 12 sports listing carried the same news, and the Mississippi Association of Coaches identified Cairns as the 2026 boys cross country Coach of the Year for Lafayette in Class 5A.

That statewide listing placed Cairns alongside other class winners across Mississippi, including Mandy Owen of Hickory Flat in Class 1A, Sheena Murphy of Myrtle in 2A, Jose Valle of St. Patrick Catholic in 3A, Paul Shelly and Cathy Gordon of West Lauderdale in 4A, Lee Buse of Saltillo in 6A and David Wheeler of Tupelo in 7A. The structure of the award matters because it shows Cairns was chosen through a statewide coaching honor, not just a local nod.

His role in Lafayette County also extends well beyond athletics. Public salary records show Cairns worked as a second grade instructor in 2024-2025, and the district staff directory identifies him at Lafayette Elementary. In a school system where educators often wear more than one hat, that combination means Cairns has influence both in the classroom and in the cross country program.

For Lafayette High School, the recognition adds weight to a sport that depends more on discipline than on spotlight moments. Cross country success is usually measured by the habits built over months of training, and the MAC award suggests Cairns created a culture strong enough to draw praise from peers across Mississippi.

The honor also fits a broader pattern inside the district. Lafayette County schools have recently highlighted other coaching achievements, including Debbie Swindoll’s MAC Coach of the Year recognition in tennis and Jimmy Murphrey’s national boys assistant coach honor. For Lafayette County, Cairns’ award is another sign that the district’s coaches are shaping students in ways that reach well beyond the scoreboard.