High School Breaks Ground on Multisport Facility

Randy McKamey had just finished building a new athletic facility at Grace Christian Academy before deciding to leave and fill Clinton's vacancy at football coach.

At the time, he did not know that Clinton was having thoughts of building its own. When those ideas were pitched, he figured it would take some time.

Turns out it only took three months, with the groundbreaking of the new facility taking place Monday.

"The momentum started shortly after I took the job, and some people got behind it that may or may not have gotten behind it had I not took the job - one of the big players in the game was Joe Hollingsworth, who owns Hollingsworth Company," McKamey said. "He really stepped up big time and made it happen sooner than later.

"He said, 'Let's get you in this thing before the season starts. If you're going to try and turn this program around you need it right now,' and I was blown away."

The facility's construction is scheduled to be finished by Aug. 1, with McKamey stating that he is "confident" that the building will be completed on time. Clinton opens the football season on Aug. 18 against Scott.

The multisport complex, which will replace the current facility that was built in 1985, will include a 35-yard indoor turf field with a 40-foot ceiling, a 75-seat multimedia film room, a training room for rehabilitation, a two-level weight room, coaches' offices, a conference room, an 80-person locker room and more.

"It's been a long time since Clinton High School has received a facility that can aid in athletics, so we need a shot in the arm and I think this will do it," McKamey said. "We've slowly been losing athletes across the bridge to Anderson County, which has some pretty nice facilities, so this will be something that will make some of those kids stay and see we're giving back and putting our money into the sports.

"I've always been a proponent of if you outfit your team well, they are going to play well. I think these kids will play better knowing that we are investing in them and that we believe in them."

Hollingsworth, who is the largest donor of the project, will have naming rights to the outside of the building. The Anderson County Board of Education appropriated roughly $200,000 to the facility.

Read More of Today's AB Headlines

Subscribe to Our Daily E-Newsletter