Westminster Varsity Football Head Coach Keith Herring recently revealed that he will be stepping down as head coach of the Wildcats after three seasons. 

Although Herring’s time at Westminster may have been short-lived, he will leave with a career record of 15-17 and two total playoff wins. 

In his three seasons, Coach Herring has overcome some serious difficulties. He took over the program in 2017 in the wake of the divisive National Anthem protest issues and led his team to a tough 4-6 season under quarterback Chad Briden that ended in a first round loss to Rolla. 

In his second season, his team was able to overcome the loss of their star quarterback Lane Davis in the second game of the season on the way to a 6-5 record that included his first playoff win at home against Parkway Central. The Wildcats would lose the next week at Hannibal.

This year, the team got off to a rough start. After going 0-4 to start the season, the Wildcats earned their first win of the season at Priory, and from there, they went on a run. They won five of their next six games, including a playoff win in the first round at Parkway Central. 

The next week, on a cold night at Ladue, Coach Herring’s players showed the true character he’s instilled in them. After holding one of the state’s hottest offenses to ten points in the first half, the Wildcats came out of halftime and the eventual state semifinalists started to pull away. The Wildcats would never give up. 

The team had already lost senior Ben Hicks to a violent concussion. Before the game was over, Arthur Jordan was taken off the field by ambulance, Jack Powers was forced to stop playing because of a high ankle sprain, and Ben Chereji would leave the game with a hand injury. The team still never gave up. They played till the last whistle of their final game. 

“Coach Herring had a rough go of it his second year. That was really supposed to be his big year, and he had some tough luck with losing some key guys,” said senior offensive line Bennie Anderson, “One thing he did a great job of was taking athletes who were not necessarily great until they just exploded during their senior year.”

Coach Herring says that he’s retiring. “This was not an easy decision to make,” he said, “It has been a blessing to work alongside great Christian coaches who care deeply about our players and to have the wonderful privilege of coaching our amazing young men.”

Herring hopes to stay on as an administrator at the school next year. Last year, he worked as the Assistant Dean of Students, and this year he’s working in the Middle School.

Looking ahead, the coaching search is officially on. There’s an application listed on the Westminster website and Athletic Director Cory Snyder will most certainly draw a strong candidate to carry on the program as it heads into its next phase. 

It will require someone strong, though. The program has seen a steep drop off in the last four years. With 17 graduating seniors this year, there will be between 15 and 20 returning players depending on how many players come back out. The program needs a coach dedicated to recruiting the halls of Westminster and finding success with the talent and athleticism that exists within this building. 

Everyone is thankful for Coach Herring’s contributions to our school and our football program as we look hopefully towards the future.