Chip Henderson: Calhoun High School
Henderson was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame in 2023.
Chip Henderson had three goals when he was named the head baseball coach at Calhoun High School in 1995.
He just wanted to make his team competitive. He then eventually wanted to win a state title. Finally, he wanted to start and end his coaching career at the same school.
When the longtime coach retired in 2021, he could say he achieved all three.
His accomplishments also landed him into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into as part of the Class of 2023.
"Just to be considered is an honor," Henderson said. "To be nominated is very humbling and I'm very proud. You don't achieve things like this by yourself. You have to have great players, great assistants, get great community support, those are things that come to mind."
In 27 seasons, Henderson led the Jackets to three state championships (2000, '05 and '10), two state runner-up finishes, 10 region titles and his program made the state playoffs 25 of his 27 seasons.
He was named Coach of the Year three times. Eight of his players were drafted and two played Major League Baseball. He finished with a career coaching mark of 624-191.
His 2010 squad was 33-0 when it met Cook for the Class 2A state championship. The Jackets lost Game 1 of the best-of-three series, then won the next two to finish 35-1.
A Calhoun High and Shorter College graduate, Henderson graduated from college in 1991 with a degree in sports management. After he met his wife Cheryl, a teacher, Henderson thought working in education might work for him. The two both built successful teaching careers while raising their two daughters Cassie and Carlie.
He was hired as an assistant in 1994, then was elevated to the head job a year later. When Henderson was hired, the school hadn't won a region title in more than 20 years.
"I never imagined things would have turned out like they did," he said. "Never in my wildest dreams."
Former Ringgold High baseball coach Brent Tucker played with Henderson at Shorter, then coached against him for many seasons. Even though the two were rivals when Tucker coached at Ringgold, they have always remained close friends.
"I've known him for a long time," Tucker said. "The biggest thing about him is that he did things the right way. His teams were always prepared and they came at you with everything they had."
Tucker said they often talked extensively after playing against each other.
"After the game, win or lose, he was always Chip," Tucker said.
The same Chip Henderson known for establishing Calhoun High School as a state baseball power.