After 25 years of being on the sidelines in Clay County, Chris Herron has decided to retire from coaching at the school.
Herron has been an integral part of the success at Clay County over the years. He served as Danny Horn’s assistant for 19 years and replaced Horn as head coach when Horn left for Benjamin Russell. Herron’s specialty was defense and Clay County rugged defenders were key to the team’s 55 game winning streak and six state championship run.
Herron served three years as Clay County’s head coach, winning 33 games and making a trip to the state championship game before the school combined with Lineville in 2012. Herron gracefully stepped aside to allow Lineville’s Steve Giddens to become to head coach of the new Clay Central High School. Giddens had seniority and Herron became the defensive coordinator. But Giddens only coached one season before going into administration and Herron took over the head job in 2013. He has guided the Volunteers to the playoffs every season despite the school’s jump to 5A in his third season.