Family tradition: Lockard legacy grows at Clinton
Clinton basketball Assistant Coach Chase Lockard, left, listens as his father, Dragons Head Coach Chris Lockard, discusses strategy before a game during the 2024-25 season. Chase Lockard joined the coaching staff in 2024 and recently was hired as a teacher at Clinton High School, giving the Dragons an assistant coach who is now on campus full time. (photo:Tony Cox )
Don W. Lockard built a legacy so enduring that Clinton High School’s gymnasium bears his name.
His son, Chris, has spent more than two decades leading the Dragons’ basketball program.
Now, the next chapter begins as Chris’ son, Chase, joins the Clinton High faculty, giving the Dragons an on-campus assistant coach for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
Chase Lockard is no stranger to the school or the program.
A former Dragons standout in basketball and baseball, he has served on his father’s coaching staff for several years while teaching at Grand Oaks Elementary School.
This fall, he’ll move to Clinton High, where he will teach wellness and physical education while continuing his coaching duties.
“It’s not just about basketball,” said Chase. “It’s about the love for the town, the love for Clinton.
“There are so many great people at the school, so many people who have had a big impact on my life,” he said. “It was good for me to get started at Grand Oaks and establish myself as a teacher.”
For Chris Lockard, the hire brings more than family to campus. It also provides a valuable resource for the basketball program.
“I haven’t had an in-house assistant coach on campus since the 2006-07 season,” he said.
“This will help me to have him here, and it’s great for him. It will help me with things like tracking grades and all the extra things.
“It’s always good to have an extra set of eyes and ears on campus, and that will also give me a little extra help.”
Chase Lockard said that his being on campus will allow the coaching staff to spend more time with players and less time handling administrative duties after hours.
“This is big, even for Dad, because we can get things done and you won’t always have to stay up until 2 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “You can do some things during that fourth-block practice time, get so much stuff done, and have more impact on the kids every day.”
