Bob Herlocker: The hall of famer
NAPA, Calif. — It is not very often you get exceptional individuals in any sphere of life. These exceptional individuals deserve the recognition to solidify their names, achievement and legacy in the history books.
In line with this, Bob Herlocker obtained all of the above mentioned in the year 2010. This year, he got inducted as a member of the Napa High School Hall of Fame. He owes this recognition to his love of football and sports in general.
Upon receiving the award, the overwhelmed football manager shared some words. “It’s one of the highest honors I’ve ever received,” he said. “This is not only about my playing career, but also my coaching career.”
This admission of his love for the sport is true. It is incredibly rare to get the combination of both a good player and a great coach. However, Herlocker aces these two checkboxes.
This love of football started right from his youth. Herlocker played football as a teenager in his high school days for Hogan Hight. Upon graduation, he went on to play for Solano College under the direction of Dick Biama.
Herlocker played in various positions during his career, including wide receiver, running back and even quarterback. He also played free safety on defense and special teams as a gunner and return man.
This player experience helped shape the coaching philosophy of Herlocker. “It definitely helped me as far as what I wanted to do,” he said. “I knew early on I wanted to be a coach. I knew what it took from a player standpoint.”
In 1970, Herlocker started coaching at Hiram Johnson. He also went through Hogan High and Vintage High School. He served as an offensive coach in both of these stints.
Interestingly, he made a transition to baseball in 1988. Together with Mike Brown, Herlocker led the school’s baseball team to win the baseball sectional championship.
In 1990, Herlocker got appointed as the coach of Napa High School. He went on to guide the team to three MEL Championships. The team he built also became Napa football program’s first team to win 13 football games in a row.
Herlocker spent 20 years at the institution. He dedicated his life to developing the players coming through the ranks and shaping them into better individuals.
This dedication and impact were addressed by Troy Mott when he said, “Bob is the best football coach I’ve ever been around. Most everything I’ve learned as a coach and a teacher, I have learned from Bob. His passion for kids is what is most impressive. I know he profoundly impacted me when I played for him, and he is partly the reason I became a teacher and a coach. I don’t know if he wants me to admit this, but his coaching style is what I have tried to emulate.”
Herlocker has lived a life worthy of emulation and etched in the significance of good sporting ethics. What else would one want from a fall of famer?
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