Jim Matney
For the last 37 years Jim Matney established himself as one of Kentucky’s best high school football coaches. He was one of only 12 Kentucky high school coaches to ever win 300 games and did it at two schools — Sheldon Clark from 1984-2003 and Johnson Central 2004-2021.
Twice he got Sheldon Clark to the state semifinals but at Johnson Central he went to five straight state championship games. He won his first state title in 2016 and then made statewide — and some national — headlines in 2019 when Johnson Central upset top-ranked Boyle County 21-20 after a Boyle County middle school administrator said “a lot of people in Johnson Central people can’t even count to 100” during a pep rally that was being live streamed. He predicted a final score of 100-0.
That comment irked Matney a lot. He gave a fiery pregame speech that motivated his team in a game most didn’t think Johnson Central could win.
“Don’t you let anybody come in here, especially from the big city, and be able to walk out of here thinking that they’re better people than you are,” he told his players.
All that and more came to mind Tuesday when I heard the news that Matney had passed away. He had COVID and had a stroke when he was being transported to a West Virginia hospital. The community held a prayer vigil for the beloved coach who got COVID after Johnson Central’s season-opening win over Henry Clay.
Janette Jude, Matney’s sister-in-law, announced his passing in a social media post that brought condolences from coaches and others across the state.
“Jim passed away peacefully after the boys were able to say their goodbyes, with (his wife) Debby by his side,” Jude posted. “I regret that he didn’t know how many of you cared and reached out to our family. Thank you so much. We’re heartbroken but we will get through this. We have so many of you who I know will be there for us all. Please pray for peace, comfort, and strength for us.”
Matney was a true mountain lover. He could have left Johnson Central for other jobs but loved where he was and helped develop his players in sports and life.
One of his current football players, Grant Bingham, is verbally committed to play for Kentucky.
I also remember Matney for his passion on the wrestling mat. During my years covering high school wrestling, I watched him coach wrestling at both Sheldon Clark and Johnson Central. He won state championships at Sheldon Clark in 1994 and 1995 and had 30 individual state title winners overall at Sheldon Clark and Johnson Central. He was named National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High Schools in 2020, an honor he certainly deserved.
Matney will be missed by many but also left a lasting impression on everyone from players to coaches to administrators to media members.
Honoring him at this year’s state football championships has to be a must and knowing the respect Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tacket has for him I have to think that will happen in December.
