Offensive coordinator promoted to JHS head coach

The Jefferson City Schools Board of Education on Thursday promoted assistant football coach Ben Hall to head coach of the high school team.

Effective Feb. 1, Hall will replace T. McFerrin, whose resignation the board also accepted. McFerrin’s last day is Jan. 31.

The board’s vote on Hall and McFerrin was unanimous and passed as part of one motion.

“Look at that as a sign of our support for you and your team,” school board Chairman Ronnie Hopkins said, smiling. “We look forward to you taking over and the first game of the year. And we all know who that is and we know what needs to be done…No pressure.”

Hall has served as an assistant coach at JHS for several years. McFerrin, 70, announced his retirement on Jan. 3, the first day students returned to school after the holiday break.

At the meeting, the board presented him with a proclamation as part of a special recognition of the 2012 team, which won the school’s first-ever state championship in December.

A number of players attended the meeting and joined in a standing ovation for the coach, who retires after four years at JHS and a career that spanned 38 seasons, included 340 wins and two state championships.

“Hopefully, we will do this again,” Hopkins said, of the team's recognition. “But there can never ben another first.”

The man put at the helm of the Dragons’ stab at a second title acknowledged McFerrin’s impact on his own coaching path. In answer to a question he fielded on “replacing” McFerrin, he told the board that won’t be possible.

“You don’t replace a T. McFerrin, you just try to carry on and conduct business in the way he has done so for many years and had a lot success with,” Hall said. “Everyone who has worked with him or played for him is better person because of it.”