Former San Angelo Central Football Coach Reportedly Battling Alzheimer’s

SAN ANGELO, TX — Former San Angelo Central head football coach Steve Heryford is reportedly battling Alzheimer’s disease.

The news was first reported by Pete Christy with KCBD in Lubbock.

Heryford was the Bobcats’ head coach from 2006-08 and led the team to a playoff win his first year. 

He is perhaps best remembered by Central fans as the defensive coordinator of the memorable 2003 team, which reached the state quarterfinals largely on the strength of its defense, which held eight teams to 12 points or less.

The highlight of that year was Central’s 26-12 second-round win over Midland Lee.

Heryford spent one year as Tahoka’s head coach in 2005 before returning to Central as its head coach the following season. Despite initial success, he left with an overall record of 11-22 after finishing his tenure on a 13-game losing streak.

It didn’t take him long to revive his career. He won a state title as the defensive coordinator at Refugio, and he was incredibly successful as the head coach at Seagraves.

In six years at Seagraves, Heryford was 56-23 and guided his team to the state quarterfinals four times. The Eagles reached the state semifinals twice.

Heryford retired in 2018. A graduate of Midland Greenwood High School, his coaching career also included stops at Magnolia, Del Rio and Lubbock Trinity Christian.