Football defensive end inducted in Moraine Valley Hall of Fame

Harvie Herrington, of Eldridge, Iowa, was one of five athletes and one coach inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College 2020 Athletics Hall of Fame last month.

A former Eisenhower High School athlete, Herrington played football at Moraine Valley during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. His freshman year, the defensive end received the college’s Defensive Lineman of the Year after coming off an injury and playing only four games. Sophomore year he was team captain, earning Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Line of the Year at Moraine Valley as well as All-Conference Defensive Tackle in the North Central Community College Conference and All-Area Defensive Lineman. Following Moraine Valley, Herrington had seven collegiate scholarship offers, ultimately continuing his academics and football career at Western Illinois University. Later, he played briefly in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears. He also played in the Arena Football League until he was 32. He then coached high school and semi-pro football. Today, Herrington is a youth motivational and leadership speaker, including some visits with Moraine Valley athletes.

“Football taught me about goals. It gave me something to work for, and in that process I learned how to work hard for what I wanted. The time I spent focused on school and training at Moraine Valley is what got me to the NFL. It didn’t even feel like hard work because it was a passion, a dream, a goal. Without that dream to play football and without those goals, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Herrington said. “Being inducted in the Hall of Fame at Moraine Valley is the greatest gift that could be given to me for my football career. I was allowed to flourish at Moraine Valley. I started the process of becoming a man at this school.”

“Not only did Harvie contribute to our football team, but he continues to give back by speaking to and inspiring our current student-athletes,” said Bill Finn, Moraine Valley Athletics director. “I love when we can go back through our rich athletic history and for one day each year relive some of the amazing contributions that have set the stage for what Moraine Valley Athletics now offers our community. This Hall of Fame really upholds the rich athletic tradition of Moraine Valley and showcases our talented athletes from the south suburbs of Chicago.”

Herrington was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame along with baseball coach Al Budding, soccer players Alex Duncan and Erin Duncan, basketball player Shane O’Donoghue and cross country runner Lisa Pollard.

Video of HOF inductee Harvie Herrington