The Amherst Regional football program has found its next coach.
Chris Ehorn Jr. has been named the fifth coach in the last 10 years for the Hurricanes, who have been stuck in idle since winning their lone Super Bowl title in 1999.
“The potential at Amherst is great,” Ehorn said “They haven’t had much success lately but in the division they’re at and the area they’re at, they have a lot of upside. I thought it would be a great situation for me to go in, give them something new they haven’t seen before and hopefully turn the program around.”
Ehorn, 28, takes over from David Thompson, who went 11-31 in four seasons from 2012 to 2015. Amherst was 1-10 last season. Its last winning season — 6-3 — came during Thompson’s first year.
This is Ehorn’s first head coaching position. He was the Northampton varsity defensive backs coach and junior varsity defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014.
“I’m very excited to be at Amherst,” he said. “I know facing them they have a lot of good players, a lot of athletes, a lot of speed. I’m excited to be able to get there and put my stamp on it.”
Many coaches have put their stamp on Amherst over the past 20 years.
Thompson replaced Glenn Jackson, who was 11-32 from 2008-11. David Shepherd went 0-11 during his lone season in 2007.
Ken Jacque was 12-20 (2004-06) during his three seasons, including 8-2 his first year.
Ron Lashway Jr. had some strong teams during his time. Lashway guided the program to its lone Super Bowl title in 1999. He was 38-18 from 1999-2003.
Rounding out the 1990s was Bill Manchester (9-13 from 1997-98) and Tom Cullen (1990-96, 21-50).
Ehorn has yet to meet with the entire team, but he did talk to a few players.
“They expressed a desire to win,” he said. “They expressed a desire to have discipline, to have discipline from me, to have discipline from their teammates and I think that’s a big thing.”
Ehorn said wants to hear what his future players’ goals and expectations are when he meets with them next week.
“By them stating it I believe the answer in return will be ‘well, you need to put in that work.’ The work is 7-on-7 in the summer, get into the weight room in the summer, prepare yourself. Treat it more as a business on the varsity level than they are right now. I think Amherst can be a great football town but it takes discipline and it takes winning. The town will be on your side if you win and if you keep the kids in good health.”
Ehorn’s business-style approach comes from growing up playing football in southern California. Ehorn is from Murrieta, which sits halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. He played at San Bernardino Valley Community College outside of Los Angeles in 2006.
He spent last year coaching at his high school alma mater, Murrieta Valley.
Ehorn, who understands there is a difference between football in California and western Massachusetts, said he wants to incorporate some of the same principles he learned growing up.
“I do want these student athletes to take it seriously. To treat it as a business,” Ehorn said. “Now, the rules are different. In California they are already practicing. They just finished spring ball and summer ball starts in 2 1/2 weeks. It’s basically mandatory. You have to go to those things. You have football as your PE class. Out here it’s not that way.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a strict disciplinarian, but there are things I expect. I take football very seriously and if they are going to be playing and representing Amherst High School, representing the town of Amherst, they do need to take it seriously, they do need to be disciplined and there’s a fun and good way to go about it.”
Amherst athletic director Rich Ferro and Principal Mark Jackson were among the members of the interview committee.
“Another good thing I’ve noticed is Rich Ferro and the Principal Mark Jackson, their support and anxiousness to get this football program moving in the right direction,” Ehorn said. “I was a little hesitant about Amherst for that reason. I wasn’t sure. Was the athletic director going to be as excited about football as I am? Is the principal going to be as excited about football as I am? And they are. And they made it very clear to me what they expect and what they want from the team. It’s exactly where I’m at.”
Ehorn plans to meet with current and potential assistant coaches next week.
While Amherst is still a Division 2 program, offseason league realignment placed the Hurricanes in the Intercounty South with Belchertown, Easthampton, Ludlow and Monument Mountain.
Ehorn said he is excited about the move.
“There’s a lot of work for us to do to be an extremely competitive team,” he said. “I believe the talent is there. Amherst has a high level of talent, maybe more so than other schools, but I think we’re in a good position to win some games this year.”
Ehorn found his way to the Valley through marriage. His wife is Williamsburg native and Northampton High alum Tara Henson. They have two girls: Eve, 2, and Ruby, 1 month. They moved back to western Massachusetts in March following one year in California.
Ehorn is an agent for Keller Williams Realty in Northampton.
Mike Moran can be reached at mmoran@gazettenet.com.