Jackie “Wayne” McNutt was born on January 13, 1948 in Haleyville, Alabama to parents Jack and Earlene. Coach McNutt grew up in Haleyville where he was a stand out football player earning many awards and a spot on Coach Bear Bryant’s 1966 Alabama football team. After attending the University of Alabama, Coach McNutt transferred to Troy University where he earned his BS in Health and Physical Education. 

Coach McNutt began his teaching and coaching career in the Scottsboro City School system in the fall of 1972. He spent 34 years as a physical education teacher and coach in the system.

Coach McNutt loves to tell the story of being handed a wrestling book to learn the sport and then coaching at the first wrestling match he had ever seen. Though he entered the sport with little knowledge, he became a fast learner and a beloved coach. While Scottsboro had a wrestling club team, Coach McNutt is credited with beginning the first sanctioned Scottsboro High School wrestling team. Coach McNutt’s first head wrestling coach tenure was from 1972-1984. He stepped away from coaching until 1996 and finished his career in 2003. During his time as head wrestling coach, Coach McNutt amassed 145 wins. In 1998, Coach McNutt led the Scottsboro wrestling team to their first ever state championship. That same year, Coach McNutt received the state champion coaches’ award. Under McNutt’s leadership, the team were state runner-ups in 1997, 1999, and 2001. 14 of his wrestlers were named individual state champions. As Coach McNutt was finishing out his career, he brought super duals to Scottsboro allowing multiple teams to compete in one place at one time.

Wayne was married to his biggest supporter and cheerleader, Mrs. Beth McNutt, for 43 years. Equally as competitive, Beth started the first girls’ basketball team at Scottsboro High School where she went on to win many games. In June 2018, Beth passed away after her battle with cancer. Their two sons, Jonathan and Drew, played football and wrestled for Wayne. Both also followed in their parents’ coaching footsteps having coached football and track and field for several years. 

Though he has been retired for over 20 years, his wrestlers frequently reach out for phone calls and visits with their beloved Coach McNutt. You can still find him frequenting wrestling matches and football games to cheer on his Scottsboro Wildcats. Today, Coach McNutt enjoys spending time with his grandchildren (Andrew, John Reed, and Ellie) and fishing as much as possible.