Ray Herring Jr. Outstanding Two-Way Player, Named First-Team All-State Selection Four Times

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAMER

ABOVE VIDEO: Ray Herring, Jr – 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame

2017 PREP INDUCTEE

HOLY TRINITY GRADUATE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – If you had to select one individual to portray the values and character of what is expected of a successful student athlete, Ray Herring Jr. is the face for that poster.

“Start here and go anywhere” is Holy Trinity’s motto, and Ray Herring Jr., who attended high school there from 2001 through 2004, took the motto very seriously.

Playing for the Tigers and head coach John Thomas, Herring was indeed here, there and everywhere on the football field. His commitment to help his team win shined from the opening kickoff to the final gun.

Herring starred as a defensive back, running back and wide receiver during his days as a Tiger and was named a first-team all-state selection four times.

He was a big part of the Holy Trinity teams that lost just 8 regular season games in four seasons, including a 17-1 combined record in his final two years – and Herring amassed amazing numbers playing on both sides of the ball.

He finished his career at Holy Trinity with 401 tackles and his 25 interceptions on defense which are still a school record.

Herring was even more impressive with the ball in his hands as he hauled in 85 passes for 2,063 yards. Herring averaged 24 yards per catch and scored 29 touchdowns.

During his final two years, he also carried the ball 74 times for nearly 700 more yards hitting pay dirt four additional times. He scored 314 points for the Tigers in his career.

Herring, a stellar all-around athlete, was also a valued member of the of the track and basketball teams at Holy Trinity. His athletic ability, character and GPA made him one of the most recruited athletes in east central Florida.

His college decision was tough. Florida, Ohio State, Miami and his eventual choice, Notre Dame, all wanted Herring to attend their school.

Herring appeared in 50 games for the Fighting Irish and always found a way to contribute as a valuable member of the team. Consistently willing to do what was needed, he played on special teams and in select defensive packages where he made 471 appearances, totaling 43 tackles for the Irish, with 24 solo stops during his career.

He graduated from academically demanding Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and computer applications and did so with a 3.2 combined GPA.

BUILDING A LEGACY

After graduation, Herring returned to Brevard County where he reunited with his old high school coach, John Thomas, but this time at Florida Tech. As a graduate assistant and a recruiting coordinator, Herring was instrumental in helping another member of this year’s induction class, Steve Englehart, recruit the first-ever class for the Panthers fledgling football program.

Herring has worked his way up the ranks at Florida Tech and is now the Athletic Academic Success Coordinator and Special Assistant to Athletic Director Bill Jurgens.

Ray’s dad, Herring Sr., was also a defensive back and was also on his way to playing big time college football when he was tragically paralyzed on the field playing for the Palm Bay Pirates in 1977.

He passed away in March of 2016 but even being disabled left a legacy tough for any son to live up to. Herring Sr. helped those with similar circumstances and worked with the Space Coast Center for Independent Living, which assists people with disabilities.

Aside from his mom, Valeri Herring, whom Ray worships, the man that knows him best would be Coach Thomas.

Commenting on Ray’s future, Thomas said, “Ray’s accomplishments so far speak for themselves, and he is well on his way to establishing his own legacy as a great example and mentor for prospective student-athletes.”

THE 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 12. 

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announced, Induction Ceremony Set May 12

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced Thursday an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2017 Class of the Hall of Fame.

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2017 class in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Special honorary recognition will also be bestowed upon individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and has so far inducted more than 100 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Vice President Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, Assistant Editor Alan Zlotorzynski, local youth sports advocate and promoter Mike Cadore, Friday Night Locker Room Founders Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, former Health First COO Larry Garrison, Cocoa Beach City Manager Jim McKnight and AAU Vice President Rusty Buchanan.

“The list of inductees for 2017 induction include athletes and coaches everybody knows – and some that may have been forgotten with the passing of time,” said Tom Palermo.

INDUCTION GALA & SPORTS AWARDS SET FOR MAY 12

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sports Awards will be held Friday, May 12 at the Cocoa Beach County Club.

The festivities include a meet and greet with the area’s sports royalty, dinner and the induction proceeding which includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2017 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Community Credit Union, First Choice Medical Group, SOAR, Clear Choice Health Care, BioCellular Therapies, Savings Safari, Spectrum Sports, Friday Night Locker Room, Dr. Sangiv Patel, Dr. Mark Pinsky and Rock Paper Simple..

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, or to make a reservation, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES:  Joe Kohlbrand, Football; and Cory Philpot, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jason Arnold, Baseball; Michael Coffey, Bowling; Reggie Hannah, Basketball;  Paige Kearns, Swimming; and Charles Wilson, Football.

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Kristen Gordon, Softball; Ray Herring, Jr. Football; Katie Jackson, Soccer; and Hunter Pingston, Football.

• AMATEUR/REC CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Richard Chapman, Little League; Todd Erickson, Softball; Al Genchi, Youth Soccer; and David Kilgore, Running.

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Skip Arrich, Soccer; Tom Dooley, Baseball; Chuck Keener, Tennis; Steve Lamontagne, Golf; and Mike Soliven, Basketball.

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEES: Jeff Carr, Eastern Florida State College; and Steve Englehart, Florida Tech.

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEES: Linda Anderson, Athletic Director; and Les Stafford, Volunteer

• SPORTS OFFICIALS INDUCTEES: Neely Dunn and Bob Walton.

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Hillard Grossman.

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE : Gary Gregory, PAL Boxing.

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics – Coach Cindy Dropeski, Athlete Chuck Conway and Volunteer Kathi Madden.

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Cocoa High School 2016 Football State Champions.

• SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Jim Grimes, Basketball, Eastern Florida State College

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Similar Stories