MAYFIELD, Ky. — Mayfield High School is turning to a veteran coach to lead its girls basketball program, naming Howard Dillard Jr. as the new head coach of the Lady Cardinals.
Dillard brings 26 years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels, giving Mayfield a seasoned leader as the program enters its next chapter.
Most recently, Dillard spent the 2025-26 season as head coach of the Paducah Tilghman Lady Tornado, leading the program to a 5-17 record. His coaching career also includes head coaching stints at Dyersburg State Community College, where he led the men’s basketball program, and Shawnee Community College, where he coached the women’s team.
In addition, Dillard has served as an assistant coach at Mid-Continent University as well as Graves County, Murray, Hickman County and Fulton City high schools, building a coaching résumé that spans more than two decades.
Dillard takes over a Lady Cardinals program coming off a 14-13 season. While Mayfield finished above .500 a year ago under head coach Tom Foust, the Lady Cardinals graduated a significant portion of their scoring and veteran leadership. Dillard will be tasked with developing the team’s next generation of contributors while looking to keep Mayfield competitive in a challenging First Region.
A graduate of Murray State University, Dillard is currently pursuing a master’s degree in postsecondary education administration.