Young Harris welcomes Michael Herring as men's lacrosse coach
10/19/2020 3:00:00 PM
By: Michael MacEachern
Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Communications
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris College Director of Athletics Jennifer Rushton has announced Michael Herring as the head coach of the men's lacrosse program.
Herring comes to the Enchanted Valley after spending the past three seasons as head coach of the boys lacrosse team at the Blue Ridge School in St. George, Virginia.
"I want to welcome Michael Herring to Young Harris College," said Rushton. "During my first conversation with Coach Herring, it became evident that our values and vision for building a men's lacrosse program aligned perfectly.
"Coach Herring has established himself as an educator, tireless recruiter, and successful coach," added Rushton. "He has developed programs and sustained a high level of success throughout his career. I am confident that he will lead our young men on and off the field while developing them academically, athletically and as leaders. We are excited to have Michael join the Mountain Lion family."
Herring, who also served as the Director of Admissions for two years, returned the Barons to prominence during his time at the Blue Ridge School with a 33-10 record. In his first season in 2018, the Barons won the Virginia Independent Conference regular season and tournament championships, qualified for the state tournament for the first time in many years. The next season, the Blue Ridge School won its second consecutive conference and tournament championships, posted a 15-7 record, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. While with the Barons, Herring was twice selected as the VIC Coach of the Year.
"I would like to thank President (Dr. Drew) Van Horn, Director of Athletics (Jennifer) Rushton, and the search committee for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading the men's lacrosse program at Young Harris College," said Herring. "It became apparent quickly that Young Harris is an amazing institution with thoughtful, talented people. It also became clear that Dr. Van Horn's and Director Rushton's thoughts regarding the role of athletics in institutions of higher learning were seamlessly aligned with mine. Moreover, Director Rushton's vision of the growth and development of the men's lacrosse program is perfectly in sync with mine.
"Together, we will build a men's lacrosse program about which YHC will be proud," added Herring. "We will recruit outstanding citizen-scholar-athletes who will make a positive impact in the classroom, on campus, in the community at large, and on the field. I am humbled by their vote of confidence. I look forward to the task of building the program and am excited to get to work."
Prior to the Blue Ridge School, Herring served as head coach of the boys lacrosse team at Noble and Greenough School, which is located in Dedham, Massachusetts, for 16 seasons where he led them to 187 wins and a better than .750 winning percentage. Herring led Nobles to their first Independent School League championship in school history in 2005 and 2006. He was named U.S. Lacrosse ISL Coach of the Year in 2005. He was a recipient of the Thomas S. Resor Award for Coaching Excellence.
He also served as the head boys basketball coach at Nobles for 16 seasons, guiding the team to over 300 wins. He led them to the postseason ISL tournament 12 times, including capturing the 2003 title. He was named the ISL Coach of the Year in 2002-03.
During his time at the Blue Ridge School and Nobles, he has coached numerous U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans, two were named to national academic teams and had dozens of all-conference players. Many of his players that he coached have gone on to play at Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Brown University, Duke University, University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, Williams College, Amherst College, Middlebury College and Wesleyan (Conn.) University.
Herring also was named coach of New England Select Lacrosse League Black Team for U.S. Lacrosse U15 National Championship where his team advanced to the semifinals in 2009 and came in third place a year later. He also served as coach of the NESLL Black Team at every age level from U11 to U19 for eight seasons (2003-11).
Herring was a two-year letterwinner in men's lacrosse at Dartmouth, where he earned his bachelor's degree in economics in 1991.