Coaches Corner: 7 questions with South Pointe high coach Strait Herron, a South Carolina state champion

Video: Recap: South Pointe vs. Hartsville 2016
See the Stallions run to their AAAA South Carolina state title.

Coach Strait Herron led his South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) squad to 15-1 mark, a AAAA state championship and a national top 20 finish in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings. The Stallions have finished the season ranked No. 1 in their division the last three seasons running.

1. What does your football program do differently from other programs in your league, conference or state that helped you win a state championship?

It's hard to say what we do differently from others because I'm not sure what others do. I believe our success comes from taking good athletes and working hard in the off-season to develop strength, speed and confidence. We also emphasize the importance of team, trust and family.

2. What do you consider to be the most important aspect of your state championship?

The most important aspect is knowing the culmination of all of our hard work has paid off. This has an added impact that knowing we overcame many obstacles being the newest and smallest of three high schools in our area. 3. What is one piece of advice that you would give to a coach wanting to win a state championship?

It has to start with good athletes. Create a plan to develop the players into champions – physically, mentality and spirituality. Stick to the plan and don't worry about things you can't control. As a coach, develop a true relationship with your players.

4. Do you incorporate some type of character development program within your football program? If so, what program do you use?

I've used "The Real Man" program in the past, which teaches some great lessons. We encourage our players to get involved with FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and have an optional Bible study class offered on Tuesday night (with parent permission). Next season, I have assigned one of our best assistant coaches the title of "Life Coach." He is excited about creating a weekly lesson for our team to emphasize character. However, I must say that true character can be easily taught through a daily lesson in God's word. A coach cannot instill character, we can only help to foster it. Parents are responsible for instilling character.

5. Do you incorporate some type of leadership development program within your football program?

I have not gotten into leadership development. This is something that I would like to do in the future when funds are available for it.

6. What is the No. 1 obstacle you face in building a championship-caliber football program in your community?

The No. 1 obstacle we face is being a new school that inherited an unjustified negative stigma from the community, which led to not being able to develop support. This issue brought about more problems, such as not having adequate funds to foster development. Over the past few years this attitude has begun to change and we are seeing our community begin to accept our school and acknowledge our accomplishments. However, this brings added pressure in that we need to continue to uphold our end of doing what is right and continuing to be successful. This is not an easy task dealing with today's "American teenager."

7. Who do you consider to be your main mentor in this profession and what about that coach do you try to emulate in your program?

First, I must say that I have had the opportunity to be around many great head coaches and assistant coaches. With that said, there are two coaches that I claim as mentors, Wayne Flowers, my high school basketball coach, and Jimmy Wallace, a former high school football coach I worked under. Early in my career I asked for advice about the coaching profession from Coach Flowers, but now I lean more on Coach Wallace. I try to be my own style of coach but I also emulate both Flowers and Wallace along with my high school football coach, Bobby Ivey, in that all of them were organized, tough, motivated, sincere, detail oriented, passionate and determined.

Chris Fore is a veteran Head Football Coach and Athletic Director from Southern California. He consults coaches and programs nationwide through his business Eight Laces Consulting.