Eric Daugherty

Union Grove Head TFXC Coach

17 Years of Experience

Eric.Daugherty@henry.k12.ga.us

Highlights of your team’s/individual’s accomplishments 
Boys were 5A State Runner-Up in Track and Field last season. Girls XC was #4 team in AAAAA.   Domonic Macias was 5A individual State Champion in XC last season. Gabby Parsons was State Runner-up In 5A XC.  Sam Smith was state champion in 300 hurdles during 19’ Track and Field season.

During my time at Union Gove (02-present) Union Grove Boys have won 11 Henry County Team Championships in Cross-Country and 9 Henry County Team Championships in Track and Field.  7 Region team Championships in Cross-Country, 6 Region team Championships in Track and Field. Multiple State podium team finishes in XC and Track.

Union Grove girls have 13 Henry County team championships in XC, 5 Henry County Championships in Track and Field.  9 Region Team Championships in XC, 2 Region team championships in Track and Field.  Multiple State podium finishes in  XC.

How long have you been coaching and at what schools?
2001-02 was my first year.  All at Union Grove HS.

How did you get into teaching/coaching? Did you have running in your background?
Ran Track and XC in high school (Virginia).  Ran DIII XC in college (Maryville College).  I was not an education major in college. I became certified to teach while in graduate school for International Relations.

What would you say is your overall coaching philosophy/motivation?  
Continuous,  gradual improvement, regardless of where your starting point as a runner is. 

Do you have any mentors who have helped you throughout your career?
Richard Westrbrook, Claud Spinks, Nelson Griffin, Roy Benson.

How are you different now as a coach vs when you started?
I’ve become more patient when it comes to training. I had a tendency to push too much in practice/training early on in my career and this sometimes left runners at less than their best when it mattered most at the end of the season. 

What are the things about coaching that you really enjoy?  
Seeing student athletes develop a love of running. Seeing the friendships and life lessons that can be taught through competition and being part of something larger than oneself.

What is your motivation for being a part of the GATFXCCA Mentor Program?  
There was nothing like this when I started almost 20 years ago. It took me a number of years through trial and error to really understand the “why” behind what worked and what did not.   Something like this program would have cut down on that process a good bit!

Interested in becoming a Partner of Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association?

Contact us at outreach@gatfxcca.org