Hall of Fame

Former Jones College athletic director and head women’s basketball coach Katie Eaton Herrington was inducted into the Jones College Sports Hall of Fame on October 29th at the Jones versus Pearl River football game. In keeping with COVID-19 safety guidelines, a small private reception was hosted in Herrington’s honor prior to the game at the President’s home.

Herrington served as coach from 1988 -1999 and as athletic director from 2006-2018. She compiled a 176-114 record, including three 20-win seasons, as head coach with the Bobcats. She was named the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) Women’s Coach of the Year in 1990.

She also served as women’s tennis coach at Jones from 1989-92 and was the men’s tennis coach in 1989.

After she stepped down as head basketball coach, Herrington became a fulltime instructor in the Health and Physical Education department at Jones.  She was named as Jones College’s Faculty of the Year in 2008 and was JC’s Lamplighter in 2003 and 2006.

Herrington added the duties of Athletic Director in 2006 becoming the first female AD in school history.

Jones enjoyed unprecedented success during Herrington’s time as Athletic Director.

The Bobcats won national championships in men’s basketball in 2014, baseball in 2016 and softball in 2018. Jones also won 14 Region 23 titles and 26 MACJC crowns during her 12 years as Athletic Director.

In the 2016-2017 athletics year, Jones compiled a 206-36 record in all nine sports for a remarkable .851 winning percentage. The Bobcats won state and region titles that year in women’s basketball, women’s soccer, men’s basketball and softball and added a state championship in baseball. Jones graduated 96 percent of its student-athletes that year.

In 2013-14, Jones won state championships in all four of its women’s sports – soccer, basketball, softball and tennis.

Herrington also served as Director for Region 23 for 15 years and Assistant Director for Region 23 for five years.

Herrington received the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Loyalty Award in 2016, only the 19^threcipient of the award at that time.

With the NJCAA, Herrington served as Women’s Division I Basketball Committee Chair, Women’s Soccer Committee Chair and Services and Recognition Chair.

A graduate of Taylorsville High School, Herrington was a point guard for the 1980 Lady Tartar state championship basketball team. She was selected as the Pine Belt Conference MVP for three consecutive years, an All-State player and a member of the Mississippi All-Star team.

Herrington attended MUW on a basketball scholarship from 1980-84. She was a four-year starter for “The W” where she earned the Don Usher MVP Award as a senior. Herrington graduated cum laude with a degree in physical education.

Upon graduation, Herrington went to William Carey College as an assistant women’s basketball coach. After one year as an assistant, she was named as the Lady Crusaders head coach. She served as head coach for three years, leading them to a 51-31 record and a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship in 1987-88. During her time at William Carey, she received a Master’s of Education degree.

Herrington has been involved with numerous groups outside of Jones, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

She became a part of FCA when she was a student-athlete at MUW. She was an inaugural member of the Jones County FCA Board and continues to serve currently.

In 2015, Herrington was the recipient of the Dave “Boo” Ferris Influence Award, an award given annually to a coach who is actively involved in FCA and has a strong Christian influence on his/her FCA chapter.

In 2016, the Jones County FCA named its annual golf tournament in her honor.

Herrington and her husband, Bob, are active members of Ellisville’s First Baptist Church. They have a daughter, Kellie.

Herrington is the 52^nd member of the Jones College Sports Hall of Fame.