<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1EbGy5_0vt60K5100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1EbGy5_0vt60K5100" width="1000" height="974" ><figcaption>Broadneck’s former head coach for 22 years, Jeff Herrick is thrilled to be back with the Bruins. Herrick is lending his vast knowledge to current head coach Jeff Harris as the Bruins strive for another run at Maryland’s Class 4A championship.</figcaption></figure>Broadneck went to the Class 4A high school football championship game last year and head football coach Rob Harris has visions of returning to the playoffs again this year. He has a nice blend of returning starters and young players coming up from the junior varsity squad to achieve that goal.Over the summer, though, Harris had to fill an important coaching vacancy as he had an opening for a “seasoned” running backs coach.Harris immediately thought of someone who exemplifies what qualities he wanted in a running backs coach: grit, knowledge and being prepared, as well as being a former college running back with “some knowledge” of Broadneck’s football program.Harris summoned his mentor and former Bruins head coach Jeff Herrick from the Eastern Shore. Herrick was still coaching at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin when he heard from Harris.“We are so excited to have Jeff Herrick back on staff,” Harris said. “Jeff has the second most football victories in Anne Arundel County history. He is Broadneck football.”Herrick was head football coach of the Bruins from 1989 to 2010. During that tenure, the Bruins went to the regional playoffs seven times, to the semifinals three times, and went to the finals in 2003, losing to Damascus, 13-7.Herrick also coached the junior varsity football team for four years and was the head coach of the baseball team for six years.In addition to coaching two sports, Herrick taught for 38 years in Broadneck’s physical education department.“It’s great to be back at Broadneck, and I also get to coach with my son, Thomas, who is the defensive back coach,” Herrick said. “What is so gratifying on coming back is that I’ve coached many of the fathers who have sons on this team, and I’ve hired or coached with all of the current coaching staff.”Herrick is coming off of a 2A state championship at Stephen Decatur, where he coached the offensive line. Herrick still lives in Ocean Pines and commutes to Anne Arundel County during the week and stays with his son.The coach began his collegiate football career at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) where he was a halfback on a top-20 ranked junior college team that featured another legendary Anne Arundel County high school football coach in the same backfield in Chuck Markiewicz.“Chuck and I have been best friends since we were 8 years old,” Herrick said. “Our teams had many hard-fought battles over the years, but after the games, it was all hugs.”After AACC, Herrick played at Towson State University (now Towson University) and played in the Division III national championship game in 1976. The Tigers lost a heartbreaking game to Saint John’s of Minnesota on a last-second field goal, 31-28. Herrick was also an All-American punter at AACC and averaged 45.6 yards per punt.Herrick credits numerous coaches for his long-standing success at Broadneck including former Arundel coach Buddy Hepfer, former Meade coach Jerry Mears, and Markiewicz.Herrick knows that he needed wisdom from those other coaches — as well as support from players, school administration and parents — to achieve the success he has had at Broadneck.“I’ve had wonderful kids who have played for me, and they had great parents who supported the school and the teams,” Herrick said. “We only have one feeder program at Broadneck and that is the Cape St. Claire program. We worked closely with those coaches, so the players have knowledge of what to expect when they come to Broadneck.”Herrick also credited his relationship with the Navy football program for opening its doors and sharing expertise with the Bruins football program for many years.“We always had tremendous cooperation from Paul Johnson, Charlie Weatherbie and Ken Niumatalolo on inviting us to their practices and helping to develop our flexbone offense,” Herrick said. “I also had the privilege to coach Niumatalolo’s two sons at Broadneck.”Harris is thrilled to tap into Herrick’s encyclopedic knowledge of football and the county’s high school football programs.“I’m so glad to have him back to bounce ideas off of and get his perspective,” Harris said. “Jeff is a film junkie and watches so much and can remember and recall so much information.”Harris was an assistant coach with Herrick for many years and both coaches said Broadneck’s athletic success comes from Broadneck having most of their coaches teach at the school.“Having coaches who are also teachers in the building is great for the players as they have communication with the coaches during the day about practice, as well as discuss issues outside of sports,” Herrick said. “That develops a trusting bond during their four years at Broadneck.”As Herrick enters his 46th year of coaching high school football, he appreciates how special it is to teach and coach on the Broadneck peninsula.As Harris reflected on what Herrick has meant to the community and high school, he stated, “Broadneck, Broadneck football, Jeff Herrick, our toughness and discipline is what this community is about.”</div></body>

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Former Bruins Football Head Coach Returns As Assistant

Broadneck went to the Class 4A high school football championship game last year and head football coach Rob Harris has visions of returning to the playoffs again this year. He has a nice blend of returning starters and young players coming up from the junior varsity squad to achieve that goal.

Former Bruins Football Head Coach Returns As Assistant

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