Jefferson High School has selected a familiar face to run the girls basketball program. Clint Layng, currently the Panthers football coach, will be taking charge of the Lady Panther basketball team next season.
Layng is returning to the basketball court after taking some time off from coaching the Panther boys teams. He came to Jefferson in 2012 after a successful run coaching another Panther team, that one at Sheridan High School. Layng posted a 66-71 record at Sheridan, taking a handful of District and Division trophies, and even a couple of trips to the State Tournament during his tenure. His success followed him to Jefferson, where the Panther boys also made some trips to Division when he coached. Layng stepped away from coaching basketball in 2019 so he could focus on watching his daughter, MacKenzie Layng, who graduated this year, play for the Lady Panthers.
Layng is an animated presence along the sidelines, often demonstrating his approval – and disapproval – of game play. “I plan to bring my own style to the team,” Layng says when asked about the upcoming season. “Every season is different, different talent. I like to focus on the player’s strengths.”
Layng will be coming into a Lady Panther program that saw much success last season under coach Aubrey McMaster. McMaster led the Lady Panthers to a 20-3 record in 2023-24, including a victory at the Southern B Tournament. A flurry of controversy led McMaster to resign at the end of the season, enabling Layng to return to the hardwood. He will have many players returning from that successful team, including two of his daughters, and says he is excited about the number of talented freshman he will get a chance to work with.
As football coach, Layng has taken Jefferson to the semi-finals two straight years, and expressed excitement and optimism the team will be good again this year. “We have two All-State players coming back, and a good team of seniors,” Layng says about the football team. “We’re going to need to work on our depth a little.”
And, if football season should extend into the start of basketball season, will there be a conflict? “That would be a good thing!” Layng says. “That would mean we made it to the State Championship!” He does not foresee any conflicts late in the season, just being busy.
“It won’t be hard,” Layng predicts.
