For 25 years, Coach and Athletic Director Michael Herrington has given his time to the Hart High School football team. Now, athletes, students and staff are asking the community to give something back.

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Herrington is one of eight national finalists for the inaugural USA Today Best Coach in the Nation contest. After being one of 408 nominees and winning the state and regional rounds, he is in the running to be voted the nation’s best high school football coach.

Voting ends on Tuesday at 9 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time.

The top five finalists will receive a cash prize for their athletic department, including $2,000 for first place, and all eight finalists will receive a banner for their school.

“I have worked with Coach Herrington since 1998. He is an outstanding coach, but more importantly, he is an outstanding person,” said Hart High Principal Collyn Nielsen. “Recently, I was approached by a parent whose student had graduated more than a decade ago. He told me that Coach Herrington not only taught his son how to be a good football player, but how to be a good man. That is characteristic of the feelings and respect the Hart community has for Mike. Because of his impact on and off the field, Mike Herrington is very deserving of this recognition by USA Today.”

During his 25 years coaching and his 23 years as Head Football Coach, Herrington has won six California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Championships and posted a 248-69-1 record. Under Herrington’s leadership, the Hart High Indians are 7-0 this season and continue in the No. 1 position in the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division as all schools are now into league play.

Herrington, a Hart High graduate himself, began teaching at Hart in 1989. In 23 seasons under Herrington, the Indians have compiled 15 Foothill League Championships (1989, 1991-03, 2007), six CIF Championships (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003), and were CIF Finalists in 1994, 2002, 2005 and 2007.

In college, he attended and played offensive line for two seasons at College of the Canyons and two seasons at California State University, Northridge. Herrington also teaches physical education at Hart High.

He received more than 180,000 votes in the regional round of the USA Today contest, which ended last week.

About Best Coach in the Nation Contest

Based on conversations with local media organizations, USA Today compiled eight nominees in each state and Washington D.C. for its inaugural Best Coach in the Nation contest. Fan votes narrowed the initial list of 408 coaches to one representative from each state for the regional round. The winners of the eight regional polls represent the remaining national finalists.

The finalists also include:

• Jim Hightower of St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, La.
• Rick Jones of Greenwood High School in Greenwood, Ariz.
• Jim Hoover of Walton High School in Walton, N.Y.
• Kevin Lynott of Middletown High School in Middletown, Md.
• Marcus Boyles of Petal High School in Petal, Miss.
• Jeff Van Leur of Bridgewater Emery Ethan High School in Emery S.D.
• Philip Harwood of Belfry High School in Belfry, Ky.

Click here to vote for Michael Herrington.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

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