HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Hermitage High School and the community are rallying behind a beloved football coach.
On November 28, 2014, the offensive coordinator for the varsity football team, Jaycen King, suffered a heart attack.
“On the day of the game, he suffered a massive heart attack,” recalls King’s wife Felicia. “He just woke up gasping for air. I actually had to perform CPR on him.”
It’s been almost seven months, and coach King is still recovering in rehab. The coach’s presence was greatly missed during the high school football regional game last fall.
Up until King’s heart attack, the team was undefeated for the season, at 12-0. The team believes King’s presence would have made all the difference.
“That was a devastating blow for all of us,” says assistant coach, Sammy Jackson. “Such a great guy, great offensive coordinator that we have here.”
The team and community are now organizing fundraisers to help with coach King’s medical bills.
There will be a fundraiser walk at Hermitage High School on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. There will also be a football scrimmage and health fair on August 13 at Hermitage High School. The proceeds from both events will also benefit King.
The family has also set up a Go Fund Me account, click here for a link.
