Ex-Heritage coach takes over at Franklin County

Former Heritage High School football coach Chris Jones, who led the program for seven years before resigning in January, will be Franklin County High School’s head football coach this fall.

Jones said he was in Franklin County on Monday when the school board there made his position official.

“I’m thrilled to be going to Franklin County High School,” Jones said when reached by phone Monday evening. “Go Eagles.”

During his tenure at Heritage, Jones led the Pioneers to their first Group AA, Division 4, state championship in his first season in 2002. Prior to coming to Lynchburg, he coached in Bath County where he guided the Chargers to the Group A championship in his second year as head coach.

Jones won the first 24 games he coached in Lynchburg. He stepped down as the all-time winningest coach with a 56-22 record. His career record between Bath County and Heritage is 80-25.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to turn programs around … We expect to do the same thing there,” he said of Franklin High.

The Division 6 school has been to the Western Valley District Championships in 2002 and 2003, and has been a .500 team for the last few years.

“They are hungry to be successful in football, the community is, the school administration is,” Jones said, adding the school has a “very competent assistance coaching staff.”

The 2,200-student school is the only high school in Franklin County, which Jones said is also a major benefit.

“You have the support of the community all toward that school,” he said.

When Jones stepped down from his post at Heritage in January he said he was “going to pursue other career opportunities” and didn’t specify whether or not he would stay at Heritage to teach. He also didn’t provide details about other schools that may have been pursing him.

Monday he indicated he passed up other positions for the one in Franklin County.

“I thought it was a great place to raise your family. I’ve coached in city and county settings. The county has a lot more community support. Friday nights are a big deal,” he said.

Jones and his family plan to relocate to Franklin County this summer. He will start as a teacher and head coach in the fall.

At Heritage he leaves behind a rich legacy. When Heritage struggled with its 3-7 mark this year, it was Jones’ only losing campaign in his tenure as head coach.

Under his leadership the Pioneers won back-to-back Seminole District championships in 2002 and 2003, going 14-0 and 10-1. That 24-game winning streak ended with an overtime loss to defending Group AA, Division 3, state champion Liberty. Heritage had winning records the next four seasons before struggling with their first losing mark in 2008.

Jones was also named the National High School Coaches Association Coach of the year in 2002 when he became the first coach in VHSL history to win back-to-back state titles at two different schools.