TONY STINNETT, Sports Editor
Wednesday, September 26, 2012 9:34 am

Longtime Cannon County educator and football coach Mike Mayfield died at Vanderbilt Hospital Friday, the Cannon Courier has learned.

Mayfield had been hospitalized since Sept. 14 when he was involved in an automobile accident on Main Street in Murfreesboro. He had been battling complications due to surgery since then. Mayfield’s health was a concern last Friday when a moment of silence was held in his honor prior to Cannon County’s football game against Cascade, according to Lions Head Coach Brent Bush.

Mayfield was a current school board member. He coached football at Cannon County for 14 years during two different stints. Mayfield’s team were 55-37-4 from 1970-78 before he left to become assistant principal and head football coach at Smith County in 1980. The Lions won a conference division, two district titles, advanced to the state playoffs three times and won a playoff game during the stretch from 1970-79.

Mayfield, who also served as assistant principal and history teacher at Cannon County High School, returned to Woodbury in 1985. He coached the Lions from 1985-90 before retiring from coaching and becoming assistant principal.

Mayfield taught for 40 years, 31 of which he spent in Cannon County.