Howard Byars was a star football player at Fayette County High School. Byars was named to the 1965 honorable mention All-State team as a back by the Birmingham News.

After his high school playing days, Byars was a four time letterman (1967-70) at the University of North Alabama.

Byars landed his first head coaching job at Millport High School in 1976. His 1980 team finished the season with a 10-0 record but did not qualify for the state playoffs. His record at Millport during the six years he was the head coach is 26-22.

In 1984 Byars took over the program at Gordo for two seasons. His second, and last team, finished the season with a 12-3 record and the Class 3A State Championship with a 35-19 win over Oneonta in the title game.

South Lamar High School opened in the fall of 1986 and Coach Byars jumped at the chance to become the first head football coach. Over the next sixteen seasons his teams finished with a winning record in all but one year.

Byars Stallions qualified for the playoffs a total of twelve times and won eight area titles. Only one of his teams that reached the playoffs lost in the first round.

Coach Byars retired from his head coaching duties following the 2001 season with a record of 165-98. He was named the Class 3A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 1985. The stadium at South Lamar is named in his honor.