E&H Mass Communications Student Story: Hannah Medley shares a story of Marion Senior High School’s newest addition – Jack Ginn
Coach Jack Ginn says, “I haven’t had to work much in 34 years; I do what I love and that’s coaching.”
Many coaches start at the high school level with aspirations to climb to the college level, but the legendary coach, Richlands native, and Emory & Henry alum, Jack Ginn had a different order.
After coaching football for 32 years at the college level, Ginn is returning to his roots in Southwest Virginia in the spring of 2022 as he takes the role of Head Football Coach at Marion Senior High School (MSHS).
Ginn says, “I feel very good about my decision. It’s a new school and a chance, so let’s take it and have some impact.”
In an article in the Bristol Herald Courier, MSHS Principal, Mike Davidson said, “Coach Ginn is a Richlands native, an Emory & Henry College alum and he understands Southwest Virginia and the importance of high school football. More importantly, he understands the importance of using football as a tool to build better men. We look forward to adding his excitement and enthusiasm to our staff.“
Ginn currently resides in Allendale, Michigan, and serves as the Director of Outreach and Development at Lifestream Church. He is a Substitute Teacher at Allendale High and Middle School, as well as the Head Football Coach at Allendale High in his second season there.
Aside from Ginn’s other jobs and his 2 years of coaching at the high school level, he has a respective 32 years of coaching football at the college level. Ginn has coached and recruited for colleges including Emory & Henry, The University of Illinois, Wartberg College, Shepherd College, North Carolina Wesleyan College, and Grand Valley State University.
Ginn’s story and connection to E&H is a special one many don’t get the privilege to have. Like many who attend college, he was an athlete, a part of Greek life, and a student at Emory & Henry, however, after his 9th-semester he did his student teaching and found his passion. He says, “My first year coaching was while I was student teaching at Emory & Henry and I was able to help coach the best team in E&H history in 1987.”
In the remainder of his time at E&H, not only was he the Assistant Football Coach but also served as the Dean of Admissions for E&H in 1997; that was the only year he hasn’t coached in a 34-year time span.
In Ginn’s career on the E&H Football team, he helped lead his team to be ODAC Champions in 1985 and 1986, won All-Conference Place Kicker in 1985. He still holds the record for second-most points after touchdown (PAT’s) in a season and career, third-most consecutive PAT’s, as well as fourth-most field goals made in a career and seventh-most in a game.
Ginn said, “After 32 years of coaching college football and 2 years of high school football, I had every intention of going back into coaching at the college level but realized coaching high school is way better. So I applied to school in southwest Virginia and Michigan and I am excited to be in Marion.”
After all these years and experience, Ginn says, “If I had to go back to 1985, I’d do the same thing all over again. I am a coach because of the people, and that part never gets old.”
Class of 2023
Jack Ginn
E&H Class of 1988
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