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John Herrington sets all-time Michigan high school wins record

Posted at 9:24 PM, Oct 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-13 23:36:09-04

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) -- After coaching Harrison to a 39-0 win over Berkley Friday night in front of a big homecoming crowd, John Herrington has become the winningest high school football coach in Michigan.

In his 48 year career as a head coach of the Hawks, Herrington now has 431 wins.

Herrington already holds the Michigan record for state championships with 13.

76-year-old Herrington has been the head football coach at Harrison since it opened in 1970, and within a few years he had turned the program into one to watch. Herrington is Hawks football.

Fast forward to present day, and Herrington can now watch many of the athletes he had coaches play in the NCAA and even the NFL.

Devin Funchess is now a wider receiver for the Carolina Panthers. Running back John Miller went from Harrison to Michigan State, where he was part of the 1987 Big Ten Championship team. Running back Nick Williams played seven seasons in the NFL. Aaron Burbridge played for Michigan State and is now with the San Francisco 49ers. Drew Stanton -- who called Friday morning to wish his former high school coach good luck -- is currently a quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

These are just a handful.

After next year, Harrison High School will close its doors. Some of the players that will be a part of Herrington's historic night -- whether it's tonight or later this season or next -- won't even graduate from the school.Herrington says next season will most likely be his last as a football coach.

He fought hard to keep the school open, and it's obvious it's not his favorite topic to discuss. But Herrington agrees that setting a new state record and becoming the winningest coach in history would be quite the way to wrap up his legacy at Harrison.