Kennon coaches alma mater to state title

McCrory coach Chris Kennon, center, celebrates at the end of the Class 2A state championship game. Kennon is the 2015 Three Rivers Edition Coach of the Year.
McCrory coach Chris Kennon, center, celebrates at the end of the Class 2A state championship game. Kennon is the 2015 Three Rivers Edition Coach of the Year.

— McCrory graduate and current football coach Chris Kennon has seen his program grow during his tenure at his alma mater.

He’s been there since the program was revived after a two-year hiatus because of low participation, working under coaches Rony Jones and Gary Moody. Kennon just completed his fourth season as head coach.

That fourth year was magical, as the Jaguars won their first state championship, beating Rison 26-22 in the Class 2A state title game. Kennon is the 2015 Three Rivers Edition Coach of the Year.

“They made the statement after they got beat at Hazen in the semifinals last year that they weren’t ever going to lose again,” Kennon said of his seniors. “Our kids came into this season expecting to win every ballgame. Them doing anything less than that was not going to be acceptable to those guys.

“That’s why they worked the way they did and performed every week.”

Kennon said his team might have bad days in practice, like most teams do.

“But when it was time to get things done, they did it, and when the lights came on Friday nights, they turned it to a different level,” he said. “It is something that you can’t coach. They either have it or they don’t have it. You look up, and all 11 of them are playing hard. They give you everything they have, and that is what made it so special.”

While Kennon is happy for himself for his team winning the state title and going 13-0, he said it’s more about the kids in the program.

“I enjoy seeing their success,” he said. “I’m kind of a behind-the-scenes guy. I just love it for the kids. At the end, it is gratifying for me as a coach, and to have someone like coach Ronnie Massanelli and coach Glen Campbell to share it was great.

“It was big for us. It was a really big thing for our kids and our town.”

Both Massanelli and Campbell have been head coaches for the Jaguars.

“Both of them have their attributes that they bring to the game,” Kennon said, adding that he played for Massanelli at McCrory. “There is nothing any better than experience and knowledge of the game. Coach Massanelli has been in it for over 30 years. It’s always nice to lean back on a coach who has been a head coach.”

Campbell won a state championship in baseball a few years back.

“He’s been in those big situations,” Kennon said. “I know it’s a different sport, but he’s still been in the pressure situation. They are there every day and come to work every day. They are like me. They are all about the kids. We do all we can to prepare our kids the best we can.”

Kennon said McCrory has had good football teams in the past.

“To be in a town that loves football, it gives the people something to do,” he said. “It gives them a sense of pride. It’s a big thing to finally bring it back and reach that pinnacle and get over that hump because they’ve been in the title game two other times. Now to win one and put yourself in that elite class is big for our town. You get that monkey off your back.”

Kennon attended Bethel University in Tennessee, where he played baseball. He finished his teaching degree at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in 2001.

In addition to his coaching duties, Kennon teaches two math classes.

Kennon and his wife, Jade, have two children, daughter Blaire and son Reid. Kennon’s wife is the accounting teacher at McCrory High School.

Staff writer Mark Buffalo can be reached at (501) 399-3676 or mbuffalo@arkansasonline.com.

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