Coalfield coach Keith Henry on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, during pregame with Midway. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By JESSE SMITHEY
The Coalfield community is hurting today.
Longtime football coach and Coalfield assistant principal Keith Henry passed away Saturday morning. He was 54.
“We are truly devastated,” Coalfield athletics director Shawn Basler said via text message. Please be in prayer for his family, our players, coaches, school and community.”
Henry led the Yellowjackets for 13 seasons (2008-2020), leading them to 13 playoff appearances and an appearance in the 2014 Class 1A state championship game.
Coalfield won a region title and went 12-1 this fall, falling to state runner-up South Pittsburg in the 1A state semifinals.
Henry went 115-49 in his time with Coalfield, as his teams won eight or more games in all but his first two seasons. He’s the program’s all-time leader in playoff wins, surpassing Garry Kreis’ mark during the 2018 postseason.
He also coached Tennessee Titans Mr. Football winners Zach Stewart (OL, 2013-14) and Parker McKinney (QB, 2017).
“I don’t have the words to do him justice,” Stewart wrote by text message to 5Star Preps on Saturday afternoon. “As a coach, his resume speaks for itself. He’s one of the best, if not the best, our area has seen. Addison Bible and I played more games for him than anyone at Coalfield and those 5 years are treasured.
“As a person, he was a great father and vice principal. I was fortunate enough to work in the school with him for the last 3 months. And seeing how important he was to all the students, not just the football players was amazing.
“My thoughts are with his wonderful family, especially his two children, who I’ve known since they were young. They both will continue to make him proud.”
More details to follow online.