JCHS mourns death of football, wrestling coach

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

PAINTSVILLE — Johnson Central High School and the Johnson County community as a whole are in mourning following the death Tuesday of longtime JCHS head football and wrestling coach Jim Matney.

Matney, who guided JCHS to two state football titles, died following an extended illness that hospitalized him for several weeks.

“Today, our Johnson County Eagle Family is heartbroken as we come to terms with the loss of a wonderful man and a remarkable coach,” the Johnson County School District said in a release Tuesday afternoon. “Most important, our hearts, love and concern are with Debby, Dalton and Carson.

“Coach Jim Matney touched the lives of many in Johnson County and throughout the state. We, along with the family, appreciate all your prayers and encouragement. As a family, we will love and support each other as we heal, yet as we mourn, we also want to celebrate Coach Matney’s life and legacy. We are thankful for his example of strength and perseverance, and want to remember his many accomplishments.

“Matney is revered as one of top football and wrestling coaches in the country with high school coaching tenures at both Johnson Central and Sheldon Clark. He amassed a tremendous record of 309-132 as a football coach, including five state championship game appearances and two Class 4A state titles and has been honored as Kentucky Football Coach of the Year.

“As a wrestling coach, Matney was equally as dominant. He coached Johnson Central to the last 12 consecutive regional championships including two State Duels championships and numerous individual state champions. He also earned two state team championships at Sheldon Clark. In recognition of his tremendous success, Matney was named the NFHS National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2020.

“Coach Jim Matney will most certainly be missed by Johnson County Schools. But above all, we ask that you would please keep Coach Matney’s wife Debby and boys in your prayers, as well as, the young men on the Central Football and Wrestling Teams.”

A Belfry High School graduate, Matney was the head football and wrestling coach at Sheldon Clark High School before moving to JCHS, where he also served in both coaching positions.

Matney guided JCHS to Class 4A state titles in 2016 and 2019. On Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, Johnson Central defeated Clay County 49-6 to give Matney his 300th win.

His wrestling honors included being named the Kentucky Coach of the Year (1994-95) and NFICA State Coach of the Year (1999).

He was also named to the Kentucky Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2007.

His wrestling teams were state champions in 1994, dual and tournament champions in 1995, state dual runner-up in 2013, Blanton Collier National Award winner in 2018, the state dual champion in 2019 and state tournament runner-up in 2019.

Matney was also active as a coach in various youth baseball programs.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time Tuesday.