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Herman Sanders photo
Herman Sanders photo
Herman Sanders
Hometown: Shaw, MS
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Coach Herman Sanders, who hails from Shaw, is a hall of fame coach in basketball and track at Wingfield, Grenada, and Leflore County High. A multi-sport athlete, Herman was an All American All SWAC track star at Mississippi Valley State University where he helped lead the school to consecutive NAIA national track and field championships in 1980 and 1981. He began his 36-year coaching career at Leflore county High where he led the track team to a district title and North State championship. At Grenada High from 1985 to 1993, he served as head boys track coach and an assistant for girls track, football, baseball, and boys’ basketball and paced the Grenada Chargers track team to 4 district titles and a 1986 North State championship. Coach Sanders arrived at Wingfield High in Jackson in 1993 and coached football and track. In 1997, Coach Sanders began coaching boys' basketball and turned the Falcons into a basketball and track powerhouse. Under his leadership, Wingfield’s boys basketball teams captured 370 wins and his boys’ track team claimed district titles, a South State runner-up finish, and a state runner-up. During his career, Coach Sanders led his boys basketball teams to a combined total of 7 district titles, 2 South State crowns, 2 South State runner-up finishes, and a State Championship. His boys’ track squads seized a combined total of 8 district crowns, 4 North State titles, 2 South State runner-up finishes, and a state runner-up. Herman’s girls track teams have won 6 district titles, 4 North State crowns, and 3 State Championships. Coach Sanders has won numerous coach of the year honors during his career and served as an assistant coach and head coach in the Mississippi/Alabama All Star Basketball Classic in 2011 and 2012. He coached the South in the 2007 Mississippi High School All-Star basketball game. A longtime MAC member, Herman has served the organization in many capacities including a term as Vice President in 2007 and President in 2008. Off the court and the track, his community involvement has been extensive and he has given back to his profession by speaking at clinics across the South. At one point in time, 11 of his former athletes were enrolled in college because of athletic scholarships awarded to them under his leadership. Coach Sanders was inducted into the MVSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and into the SWAC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2024, Coach Sanders was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.