![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2022\/08\/clay-hendrix-crowd-shot-inside.jpg\")
Hendrix spoke to a large group of Furman supporters after being introduced as the new head football coach.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Hendrix is the 23rd head coach in the history of Furman football, which dates from 1889. He succeeds Bruce Fowler, who resigned his head coaching duties on Dec. 2.<\/p>\n \u201cI am thrilled to welcome Clay and his family back to Greenville.\u00a0 The future of Furman football is bright,\u201d said Buddie.\u00a0 \u201cAn extensive search led us to an obvious choice in Clay Hendrix.\u00a0 His incredible record of winning football games and developing young men of high character make him a perfect fit for Furman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe could not be more excited and humbled with the opportunity to return to Greenville and our alma mater,\u201c said Hendrix, whose wife, LeeAnn, is also a Furman graduate.\u00a0 \u201cWe have spent 10 wonderful years in Colorado and will forever be grateful to Troy Calhoun for the opportunity to coach the great young men at the United States Air Force Academy.\u00a0 The chance to build on the great tradition at Furman, however, was too good of an opportunity to pass up.\u201d<\/p>\n In 10 years at the Air Force Academy, where he coached the offensive line and served as offensive coordinator for five seasons, as well as associate head coach over the last seven campaigns, Hendrix played a pivotal role in the Falcons producing some of the top rushing attacks in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).\u00a0 That productivity translated into a 76-53 record (.589), nine bowl game appearances, and four Commander-in-Chief\u2019s Trophies, which is awarded annually based on head-to-head results among the three service academies.<\/p>\n Air Force led the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in rushing and ranked in the top 10 nationally eight times in the last 10 years due, in part, to the quality work of Hendrix-directed offensive lines.\u00a0 All told 19 Falcon offensive linemen garnered all-conference recognition and 21 players under Hendrix\u2019s guidance landed Academic All-MWC honors during his tenure in Colorado Springs.<\/p>\n This fall Air Force posted a 9-3 regular season record and 5-3 mark in the MWC, won its fourth Commander-in-Chief\u2019s Trophy this decade, and qualified for a Dec. 30 Arizona Bowl matchup against South Alabama with a 27-20 win over 19th-ranked Boise State on Nov. 25.\u00a0 The Falcons ranked third nationally in rushing offense (322.8 ypg), seventh in FBS in third down conversion percentage (51.4), and averaged over 451.4 yards per game in total offense along with 34.3 points per game.<\/p>\n Over Hendrix’s final eight seasons on the Paladin coaching staff (1999-06), Furman registered a 73-28 record with a 47-14 mark in SoCon play.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n The victory over Boise State represented the latest in an impressive list of Air Force triumphs with Hendrix on staff.\u00a0 In 2014 the Falcons defeated 21st-ranked Colorado State (27-24) during the regular season and knocked off Western Michigan (38-24) in the Idaho Potato Bowl to complete a 10-3 campaign.\u00a0 In 2010 Air Force downed Georgia Tech (14-7) in the Independence Bowl, a year after beating 25th-ranked Houston (45-20) in the Armed Forces Bowl.\u00a0 In his first season there, the Falcons handed Notre Dame its biggest setback (41-24) to a service academy since 1963.<\/p>\n Hendrix paved his way to Air Force with an exemplary 19-year record of accomplishment as an assistant coach at Furman, where he served as offensive line coach each year, recruiting coordinator for three seasons, and assistant head coach over his final five campaigns.\u00a0 From 1988-2006 he helped the Paladins post a 155-77-1 record (.667), including a 100-45 Southern Conference\u00a0 mark (.690) that led to six league championships, 11 NCAA FCS (formerly I-AA) playoff appearances, a national runner-up finish in 2001, and 1988 national championship \u2014 the first by a SoCon member school and private university in FCS history.<\/p>\n Over his final eight seasons on the Paladin staff (1999-06), Furman registered a 73-28 record (.723) and 47-14 worksheet (.770) against SoCon competition en route to three league championships, seven FCS playoff berths, 2001 national runner-up campaign, and seven top 10 final national rankings.<\/p>\n Hendrix-directed offensive lines and powerful rushing attacks were central in one of the greatest eras in Furman history.\u00a0 In 1999 Furman knocked off North Carolina (28-3) on the strength of a 177-yard rushing performance by tailback Louis Ivory, and in 2000 averaged a school record 307.1 yards per game rushing to spearhead Ivory\u2019s run to the Walter Payton Award, the FCS equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.\u00a0 The next year a Paladin line featuring three All-Americans keyed an 12-3 campaign, highlighted by a 24-17 playoff semifinal road win over Georgia Southern that halted the Eagles\u2019 NCAA record 39-game home winning streak.<\/p>\n In 2005 a potent Paladin ground game was central to Furman scoring 64 touchdowns and averaging 470.0 yards per game\u2014both school standards.<\/p>\n Those in attendance at the announcement included former Paladin head football coach Jimmy Satterfield and former Furman quarterback and NFL coach Sam Wyche.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n In recognition terms, 25 Hendrix-coached players earned first team all-conference honors and 13 garnered All-America laurels.\u00a0 In addition, five products \u2014 center Steve Duggan (1990), guard Ben Hall (1999), tackle Josh Moore (2000), tackle Donnie Littlejohn (2001), and tackle Ben Bainbridge (2004) \u2014 captured the SoCon\u2019s Jacobs Blocking Award.\u00a0 A sixth recipient, tackle Joel Bell, who was recruited and developed by Hendrix, garnered the award in 2008.<\/p>\n Three of Furman\u2019s SoCon leading 15 Academic All-Americans\u2014guards Eric Walter (1990 & \u201891) and Adi Filipovic (2006)\u2014are Hendrix products.<\/p>\n A native of Commerce, Ga., where he was a three-sport standout in football, wrestling, and golf as a prep, he starred as an offensive guard on the gridiron, helping Commerce High School to a 13-1 record and 1981 AA state championship.<\/p>\n He came to Furman in 1982 on a football scholarship under head coach Dick Sheridan and over the next four years, including three seasons as a starter under the tutelage of offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell, played a role in the Paladins posting a 39-10-1 record, winning SoCon championships in 1982, \u201883, and \u201885, and finishing as national runner-up his senior year \u2014 a season that saw him earn all-state recognition.\u00a0 Furman also recorded impressive wins over South Carolina (1982), Georgia Tech (1983), and North Carolina State (1984 & \u201885) during his playing tenure.<\/p>\n Following graduation in 1986, he joined Sheridan\u2019s staff at N.C. State for the 1986 and \u201887 seasons \u2014 the first of which featured a Peach Bowl appearance.\u00a0 The Wolfpack beat ACC regular season champion Clemson in 1986 and the seventh-ranked Tigers again the following year.<\/p>\n He returned to Furman in 1988 as offensive line coach under head coach Jimmy Satterfield and his influence quickly led to success as Furman registered a 13-2 record and claimed the NCAA FCS championship with a 17-12 triumph over Georgia Southern.<\/p>\n In 35 years of collegiate football, spanning his years as a player and as an assistant coach, Hendrix has been part of 29 winning teams that have combined to go 282-151-3 (.650).<\/p>\n He and his wife, LeeAnn Hedgpeth \u201890 of Taylors, S.C., have two sons, Cal (20), a sophomore at East Tennessee State, and Mac (16).<\/p>\n WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT CLAY HENDRIX<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat an incredible opportunity to bring in Clay Hendrix, who is as complete a person, football coach, recruiter, and competitor as we could have here at the Air Force Academy, to lead the football program at Furman University.\u00a0 Clay and LeeAnn were tremendous representatives of our program and will certainly be the same for Furman.\u201d<\/p>\n Troy Calhoun, Head Football Coach, Air Force Academy<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cFurman has hit a grand slam in the hiring of former Paladin Clay Hendrix. I had the honor of working with coach Hendrix while coaching at the Air Force Academy and competing against him when at Appalachian State, and he is outstanding. Clay\u2019s knowledge of the game, emphasis on fundamentals, ability to motivate his players, evaluate student-athletes, and recruit make him one of the top coaches in college football.\u00a0 As good a coach as Clay Hendrix is, he is a better person and wonderful role model to everyone.<\/p>\n Tim Horton, Running Backs Coach, Auburn University<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI had a chance to work with Clay Hendrix at Air Force, my alma mater, and was there when he came for his interview in 2006.\u00a0 He is a great man and an outstanding person and football coach.\u00a0 I could not be happier for him with the opportunity to get back to his school.\u00a0 He will do a great job!\u201d<\/p>\n Jemal Singleton, Running Backs Coach, Indianapolis Colts<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThere is no better person than Clay Hendrix\u2014a class act all the way and a tremendous football coach who will represent Furman in an outstanding manner.\u00a0 He is more than deserving of this opportunity and comes from a long legacy of winning and championship football.\u00a0 His players absolutely love him.\u00a0 He drives them hard\u2014in the right way\u2014and has that right combination that allows him to get the most out of them.\u00a0 I\u2019m really excited for Clay and LeeAnn and know of their love for Furman.\u00a0 It\u2019s a dream come true, and I know he will be successful as Furman\u2019s head coach.\u201d<\/p>\n Tim DeRuyter, Head Coach, Fresno State (2012-16)<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cClay Hendrix is one of my all-time favorites and one of the smartest, if not the smartest, players I\u2019ve ever coached.\u00a0 He\u2019s been successful everywhere he\u2019s gone, and I wish him nothing but the best in his new position at Furman.\u201d<\/p>\n Robbie Caldwell \u201876, Offensive Line Coach, Clemson University<\/strong><\/p>\n By Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Clay Hendrix, a former Paladin offensive guard and assistant coach who spent the last decade as an assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy, was introduced as Furman\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":265,"featured_media":16530,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6332\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2022\/08\/clay-hendrix-solo-shot-inside.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2022\/08\/clay-hendrix-crowd-shot-2-inside.jpg\")