There were expectations of a major rebuilding campaign in 2024-2025 for the Brookhaven High boys’ soccer program after the graduation of a dozen seniors last season.

With a mix of returning veterans and a whole bunch of sophomores, the Panthers were the surprise of Region 3-5A with a season that saw them taking the district champs from South Jones to extra time and earn a memorable 3-1 win over perennial title contender Florence High.
For his efforts in leading a season that was more about reloading than rebuilding, Ayers is the 2025 Daily Leader All-Area Boy’s Soccer Coach of the Year.

Seniors on the team this season for Ayers were John Sones, Braden Johnson, Markham Williams, Bram Wolfe, and All-Area MVP Ethen Lopez.
That group of leaders and Ayers should be proud of where the program is today as several young starters got experience and will return to lead next year. Among that group are sophomore goalkeeper Elijah Kilpatrick, sophomores Baylor Brister and Isaac Iles, and junior Crews Stewart, who tied with Brister for second on the team with 12 goals each this season.

An alum of the school and the program, Ayers was a linebacker for BHS football back in his prep days. He came on in 2013, serving as an assistant soccer coach for former BHS head coach Anjan Karmacharya.
When Karmacharya left for a position at Terry High, Ayers slid in as head coach, a job he’s held nine seasons now in addition to his duties as a math teacher at Brookhaven High.