Varnum High School has made a decision to honor the Head Basketball Coach and Superintendent Jon Hadley.

The new gymnasium at the Varnum High and Middle school will be named after Head Coach Jon Hadley. Coach Hadley is the girls’ and boys’ basketball coach and has been doing double duty for 16 years at Varnum.

Coach Hadley started coaching the boys’ basketball in 2009 and was asked to coach the girls’ team in 2012. Within 16 years, Coach Hadley has won the State Championship twice with his teams. The Varnum Lady Whippets were State Champions in 2019, and the Varnum Whippets were State Champions in 2021.

The newest gymnasium that stands at Varnum is approximately 10 years old. It was completed in 2014. The decision to name the new gym came about when the new Principle and Athletic Director Stacey Barton came on board.

Mr. Barton explained, “It was in a summer board meeting and a final payment was made on the gym and I realized the gym was 10 years old,” stated Barton.

“I came from Earlsboro recently and in October, I was rearranging the plaques in the gym and every plaque I was touching had Coach Hadley’s name on it. He had a hand in it. Because he’s the only one to coach in this gym. He’s been here 15 to 16 years and the only coach that has coached in this gym, both boys and girls. Why wouldn’t we name it after him?”

Mr. Barton had to present his idea to the school board.

“I asked Wheels White because he’s on the board and he said, ‘Why not? Get me a quote.’

“So, I got the measurements and then secretly asked the other board members if it would be okay for me to pursue this, and they were all in favor of it. So, I got the quote in December, and I presented it at the January board meeting.”

Head Coach Jon Hadley was clueless on this decision until the board meeting.

The Producer asked Mr. Barton on how it was presented. “I have an administration report I give at every board meeting to every board member. The board members had the quote on the back of the paper except Coach Hadley’s. It was under Special Presentation, but the Coaches paper didn’t have the quote. So, it came to that part of the meeting, and I said, ‘You all know what this is, but he doesn’t, with your blessing, we want to name the gym after Jon or whatever he wants to name it. He said, ‘Are you serious?’, and just stared at me. I said, “I asked them, not you and it was decided then. He was speechless.”

Coach Hadley stated, “When I heard this presentation, I said, doesn’t this need an approval? And Mr. Barton said, ‘it has.” I was very hesitant. It was a privilege because most dedications like this are for people that have retired or passed away. I feel very privileged because I get to see it and enjoy it while I’m still here coaching.”

As of now, the letters for the building have been ordered and should be available in about a week.

“He is what these teams are about. He coaches both teams and has been here a long time. It’s hard to stay at a small school for a long time. He’s the only one that’s been in that gym,” stated Barton.

Head Coach Jon Hadley started his career at Butner in Cromwell in 2003 to 2009. Came to Varnum and started out with softball where the team went to State in 2019.

Coach Hadley has led the Lady Whippets to 11 State appearances…12 if you count softball. The Lady Whippets have made seven straight appearances.

Coach Jon Hadley’s legacy at Varnum will be remembered for a very long time and now with the letters on their way, the revealing of the gym is next.

Jon Hadley was told that he could name the gym whatever he chose, and Coach Hadley stated, “It’s more than a gym, we have different activities in there. I want to name it the Jon M. Hadley Activity Center instead of Field House because there’s more than just basketball here.

Coach Jon Hadley celebrated his 300th career win with the Lady Whippets last year and his 400th career win with the Whippets this year.

When the big reveal is set at Varnum, it will be a big celebration for everyone involved and for Seminole County Schools. Thank you coach Jon Hadley for your dedication and hard work.

X