Bob Herrington begins his fourth season as head coach of the Jones men's golf program.
The program resumed competition after a seven-year hiatus in the fall of 2022.
Herrington's Bobcats continue to make tremendous strides, with two program firsts during the 2024-25 season. Sebastian Nowak was selected as an NJCAA Division II PING Honorable Mention All-American and Jones qualified as a team for the national tournament.
Jones placed in the Top 4 in eight tournaments, including third in the MACCC Championship and Gulf District Championship. They'd go on to finish 14th in the national tournament out of the 22-team field.
Kieran Morris qualified for the 2024 NJCAA National Tournament due to his fantastic season play, the first Bobcat individual qualifier since 2014. He'd go on to place in a tie for ninth in a field of 127 players.
Herrington spent 12 seasons as an assistant and associate coach with the Jones College softball program, helping the Bobcats to seven conference titles and the 2018 NJCAA Division II National Championship.
Under Herrington's watch, the JC pitching staff boasted one of the nation's Top 15 earned run averages in eight straight seasons, including a 1.30 ERA and 19 shutouts during the Bobcats' 2018 championship season.
Not only did the JC staff have one of the nation's best in wins and ERA, but also in strikeouts. Jones was fourth in the nation in strikeouts in 2021 with 400. The Bobcats punched out 300 or more batters during the 2016-18 seasons and ranked third in the NJCAA with 352 strikeouts during the 2016 season. In 109 innings before a shortened 2020 season, JC was fifth in the nation with 96 strikeouts.
Herrington coached five NJCAA All-Americans, including two-time selection Karli Perque, Nia Luckettt, Rachel Hayes, Ginger Lonergan and Samantha Buller. Perque was the 2017 NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year and signed with Memphis. She went 47-2 with a sub-1.20 ERA in her two seasons.
At least one pitcher inked with a four-year program under Herrington from 2012 to 2021.
Alongside head coach Chris Robinson, the JC staff was twice named the NFCA NJCAA Division II Coaching Staff of the Year in 2016 and 2018.
Herrington began his coaching career in 1986 as girls’ basketball coach at Lamar School in Meridian. He then became a football and basketball assistant coach at Petal High School from 1987-90.
Herrington served as the Dean of Men and head tennis coach at JCJC from 1990-99. The Lady Bobcats were the MACJC and Region 23 champions in 1996 and would go on to finish sixth in the national tournament – the highest-ever finish for a Mississippi junior college women's program. He was selected the MACJC/Region 23 Coach of the Year that season.
Herrington then went to South Jones High School, where he served as a coach from 1999-2006. He began the girls’ fast-pitch program and served as head coach from 2001-06, compiling a 115-28 record for an .804 winning percentage.
The Lady Braves were division champions in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He coached in the 2002 and 2004 MHSAA All-Star games. Over 85 percent of South Jones’ graduating senior softball players were offered college scholarships.
From 2006-09, he served as a principal in the Jones County School District.
Herrington and his wife, Katie, former athletic director at Jones College, have a daughter, Kellie.
