Jay had an outstanding high school basketball career for the Muscle Shoals Trojans where he was selected to the Times Daily All-Area team in 1985-1986 and was Honorable Mention All-State that same year. After high school he was signed to a basketball scholarship to Wallace State Community College in Hanceville helping to lead the Lions to a Top 25 national ranking and then on to shorter University for two more years. Jay was chosen the MVP at Shorter in 1989-1990 and was team Captain while earning All-Conference honors. 

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Upon completing his college degree Jay embarked on a coaching career that has spanned over 25 years beginning as an assistant back at Wallace State followed by a year as head coach at Darton Junior College. He then began a high school coaching career that has taken him to Lee High School in Huntsville, Coffee High School in Florence, Buckhorn High School in Madison County, Boaz High School and now Flowery Branch High School in Georgia. Jay's teams have a total of eight area championships and eleven state playoff appearance. As the Lee Generals Head Coach, Jay led his team  to the Area Championship and the 5A State finals in 1999-2000, finishing as the runner up. Also, during his twelve years as the Buckhorn Head Coach he had back-to-back twenty win seasons in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons finishing the 2005-2006 season as Area Champs and State Runner- Up.