Jim Gaylor to serve as adviser for Clinton football

Jim Gaylor is rekindling his passion for high school football while still enjoying the perks of retirement travel.

Gaylor, the longtime former Maryville defensive coordinator who helped the Rebels achieve unprecedented championship success, has been hired at Clinton as a part-time assistant/adviser on new coach Randy McKamey's staff. The move reunites Gaylor, 60, with the program he coached to a state runner-up finish in 1992.

"After Coach McKamey called, I thought about it and wanted to help out in some way," Gaylor said. "I told him I do not want to be a full-time coach.

"I can’t be all in and do the travel that I want to do; my wife and I are enjoying following the Vols. We went to every away game this season. So what we did was come to the conclusion that in the spring I’m going to kind of be around and observe and be an advisory consultant and I'll be at most of the games during the fall."

The position, which is paid, could include Gaylor's work with players, fine-tuning of the playbook or just being a source through whom McKamey can filter ideas.

"I think he anchors the staff," said McKamey, a 1989 Clinton graduate who played and coached under Gaylor. "He’s so respected in the community. The community is starving for Clintonians to come back. That was big. I also saw what he did at Maryville, the simplicity. He’s taking kids who have the buy-in factor, believe in that staff and are willing their selves to win based on that tradition. ... He’s a great defensive mind."

Gaylor finished 56-24 during his tenure at Clinton from 1991-98, including the program's only state championship game appearance. He was hired at Maryville in 1999 on George Quarles' first staff, helping to mold the Rebels into a juggernaut with his 4-3 Cover-2 defenses. Maryville won 11 state titles on his watch before he resigned in Week 2 of the 2015 season, citing ongoing health concerns.

His exit came months after he was fired as Maryville's baseball coach. Gaylor, who retired from teaching in 2012, guided the Rebels 333 wins and two baseball state tournament berths.

"I'm fine," Gaylor said. "I've got a new knee and a new hip, and they're going all the time. ... I'm 60 going on 40."

Contact Chris Thomas at chris.thomas@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @christhomasKNS.