Beloved North Carolina teacher, coach dies unexpectedly from flu

Beloved North Carolina teacher, coach dies unexpectedly from flu

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) – A teacher and coach died after suffering complications from the flu.

Harrison Vaughan, 25, was a teacher and baseball coach at Calvary Day School in Winston-Salem. He passed away last week.

To the students, he was known as Coach Vaughan. To his friends and family, he was known as Harrison. Above all else, Harrison loved three things: Jesus, his family and baseball. He got to do all three of them at Wilson Park where he shared his love of Christ while coaching at his alma mater with his dad as his assistant coach.

“I am very proud to be Harrison’s dad,” Erik Vaughan sad. He is living out his son’s legacy on the baseball field. “I am blessed to be able to be out here with these young men. I am hurting that he is not with me.”

Harrison was an assistant coach, but took over as head coach this season. He took pen to paper as he started his coaching career.

“He wrote the words, ‘Lord, bless me and help me lead these young men in your image. Amen.’ That was my son,” Erik said as he read from his son’s coaching notebook.

He also loved his new bride, Haley Vaughan. The two started dating in ninth grade when they were students at CDS and got married last May. On Monday, she showed up to support Harrison’s team.

“It is definitely hard but this is … Harrison’s favorite place on Earth, and I know he is happy that we are all here for him, and I know that he is happy that I am here supporting his team,” Haley said.

That coach title was a lifelong goal for Vaughan.

“It was his dream to coach baseball here, and he told me that years ago,” said Joseph Rybak, the athletic director at CDS.

He had Harrison as a student. Two years ago, he hired him at CDS as a PE teacher and a baseball coach. Even though he was young, he knew Harrison had the right skills to get the job done.

“Positive, humble and loved to serve others,” Rybak said.

Harrison was a bright light that still shines during these tough times.

“Harrison … was a very happy person. He had a very simple outlook on life. He loved God. He loved people and he loved what he did,” his brother Hunter Vaughan said.

It’s a reminder for his family, his friends and the entire community to embrace life and love one another.

“Our son served … hundreds of young students … He served the varsity baseball team. He served his community … By us serving, we are closer to Jesus and closest to him,” Erik said.

The team will host their first game of the season on Tuesday.

They plan to have patches on the hat of every player for the rest of the season to honor Harrison.

They also plan to retire his jersey at the school.

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