Longtime Herndon Coach Meier Steps Down
Sterling, VA - Longtime Herndon football coach Tommy Meier will step down after 17 years at the Concorde District school, he announced this week.
Meier, 47, has guided Herndon to a 103-70 (.595) record since taking over for Butch Baughan in 1990, leading the Hornets to five Group AAA Division 6 Northern Region playoff berths while suffering just two losing seasons. In four of those postseason appearances, Herndon fell to the eventual state champion - Annandale in 1993, Chantilly in 1996, Robinson in 1997 and Westfield in 2003.
Citing a desire to watch his sons, who play football and baseball at Broad Run, during their prep careers, Meier becomes the second Concorde coach to announce his resignation. Centreville coach Mike Skinner, who led the Wildcats to a state championship in 2000, announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down following the season.
"It's been a great run," Meier said. "I'm having a blast, and we're having a great year, but my son is playing in a big game on Friday against Park View and I won't get to see it.
"I've been involved in football since the fifth grade, that's 37 straight years without a year off. So I'm going to give it up"
The Hornets, 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the district, host Fairfax in their season finale this Friday night. A season that began with high expectations (Herndon has 43 seniors) has not yielded a sixth playoff berth, and the Hornets enter their season finale ranked sixth in the region with a power points rating of 22.4.
Prior to taking the reigns at Herndon, Meier served as the head coach at Falls Church's George Mason High for two seasons, leading the Mustangs to a 10-11 record and a Group A Division 1 Region B playoff appearance in 1989. Meier played quarterback at Division III East Stroudsburg (PA) University and served as an assistant at Stafford County High before taking his first head coaching position at George Mason.
Despite his background as a quarterback, Meier's staple on offense has been to feature a running attack. Herndon has had a 1,000-yard back in 13 of his 17 seasons at the school, including one in each of the Hornets' playoff berths under him. Under Meier, Herndon also claimed dominance in the Baron Cameron Bowl pitting the Hornets and cross-town rival South Lakes, winning 15 of the 17 annual contests against the Seahawks.
Herndon has averaged just over six victories per season under Meier, doing so in a district that features some of the state's biggest schools in Westfield, Oakton, Centreville, Chantilly and over the last two seasons, Robinson. "We've kind of built a tradition here," Meier said. "And we'll see how the next guy does. I guess you could say my stock will rise or fall based on how he does."
Joe Shaffer, who has served as an assistant football coach at the school for 21 seasons - the last eight as Herndon's defensive coordinator - will be one of the top candidates for the job. "I think he'd be a great choice," Meier said.
Meier, who has a career coaching record of 113-81 in 19 seasons, will continue in his role as the school's assistant director of student activities.
Meier Year-By-Year
George Mason High School
1988: 3-7
1989: 7-4*
Overall: 10-11 in two seasons
Herndon High School
1990: 7-4*
1991: 6-4
1992: 6-4
1993: 8-3*
1994: 5-5
1995: 5-5
1996: 9-2*
1997: 9-2*
1998: 2-8
1999: 7-3
2000: 7-3
2001: 5-4
2002: 3-7
2003: 7-4*
2004: 6-4
2005: 6-4
2006: 5-4
Overall: 103-70 in 17 seasons
Overall Record: 113-81 in 19 seasons
* Made postseason
