Fred Herren was born in Atlanta in 1936 and graduated from Campbell HS in the suburb of Smyrna in 1954 as an all-star athlete. He went on to star in football and track at the University of Chattanooga, graduating in 1958 and earning his master’s there in 1964. Herren got into coaching as an assistant coach at Jefferson HS in Georgia from 1958-61 and moved on to the head football coach and athletic director job at Gordon Lee HS in Chickamauga, Ga., from 1961-65.
After serving as an assistant football coach at Furman University from 1965-68, Herren came to Newberry College as the head football coach and athletic director in 1968, positions he would hold for nine years. At Newberry, Herren compiled a 46-54-4 record. In 1971, he led the Indians to a record of 8-2-1, which was the most wins for a Newberry team since the state champion team of 1924. He was named the South Carolina state coach of the year and the NAIA District Six Coach of the Year that season.
In 1975, he was named the SAC-8 Coach of the Year in the league’s inaugural season. He was later named to the inaugural class of the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame in 1999. After retiring from coaching, Herren served Newberry in multiple capacities, including director of alumni affairs from 1977-80, a second stint as athletic director from 1981-83 and vice president of development from 1983-87. He was responsible for remodeling of the stadium and press box at Setzler Field, the design and construction of the physical education complex and Eleazer Arena and the Cannon Tennis Courts.
He integrated Title IX into Newberry’s athletics programs and helped start the Lettermen’s Club. From 1987-2001, he was the Dean of Continuing Education at Spartanburg Technical College and was named the South Carolina Continuing Educator of the Year in 1994. Fred has been married over 50 years to his wife, Lucy. They have two children, Elizabeth and Greg, and four grandchildren. He is an active member at Spartanburg’s Central United Methodist Church and is a Rotary Club past president with 23 years of perfect attendance. He also participates on the boards of non-profit organizations.
