Condolences from around the Bluegrass and surrounding states are pouring in following the untimely death of legendary Johnson Central head football coach Jim Matney on Tuesday. He had been hospitalized for several weeks battling COVID-19-related issues.
The coach was hospitalized shortly after the Golden Eagles football game with Henry Clay played on Aug. 20, a dominating 60-21 victory, at Three Rivers Medical Center in Louisa before being transferred to Cabell-Huntington Hospital.
Matney, a Belfry High School graduate, was the most successful coach in Golden Eagle history. He took over the program in 2004, after coaching previously at then Sheldon Clark, now Martin County High School. Matney started his coaching career in 1982 as an assistant at Belfry.
He guided the program to state championships in 2016 and 2019, earning a fifth straight trip to the finals in the win over Boyle County in their latest appearance. Matney had 309 wins during his 38-year tenure. He also served as head wrestling coach for both the Cardinals and Golden Eagles, coaching state and individual champions.
He leaves behind his wife, Debby, two sons, and thousands of those whose lives he touched over the years.
Coach Matney was 62 years old.