Nomination Year:  2025

Nominated By:  Cindy Strong

Nomination Category:  Athletes & Coaches

Sport: Football, Basketball, and Baseball

Years Participated:  2001-2005

Career Summary:

The late Nathan Strong was a three-sport athlete at Clay County High School, where he graduated in 2005.  Strong played football and basketball all four years of high school, and was on the baseball team as a senior.  Strong brought a unique blend of size, strength, speed, and agility to each sport he played. 

Strong, a multi-year starter at linebacker and on the offensive and defensive lines, played football as a freshman and sophomore for head coach Lee Atkins, then under the tutelage of Jeff McDaniel as a junior and senior.  During his junior campaign he helped the team make it back to the TSSAA playoffs for the first time in four seasons, posting a 7-4 final record.  His defensive efforts that season were amongst the program’s elite performances, tallying 80 tackles and 12 sacks.  As a senior, listed at 6’2” and 217 pounds, Strong was named to the Preseason All-State Class A Defensive Team.  Strong received the team’s “Hammer” Award from Coach McDaniel as a junior and senior for being the most physical player.

In basketball, the team appeared in three sectional games during Strong’s years.  His biggest contributions were during his senior season, when the team went 25-10 and beat Pickett County for the District 7-A championship.  During that season Strong crashed the boards for 128 rebounds.   

Nominator Comment:

“Nathan loved being a Bulldog.  He was extremely devoted to athletics.  Nathan got to play on some outstanding teams in multiple sports and was an outstanding player, especially in football.  I know that Nathan would be thankful if he knew he was being considered as a Clay County Sports Hall of Fame member.  Thank you.”