Below are a few, but certainly not all, of the people that help to run the athletics department.
Kristian Junker - Athletic Director
Kristian Junker is in his 8th year as director of athletics at Henry Clay High School. Junker has been involved with high school athletics for over two decades and most recently served as assistant athletic director (2015-17) and coach (2002-2015 - Head Girls Soccer Coach at Bryan Station HS, Assistant Boys Soccer Coach at Bryan Station HS and Henry Clay HS(2010 State Champion)). At Henry Clay, Junker oversees one of the state’s largest and most successful high school athletic programs. The athletics department sponsors 33 sports and activities, oversees over 800 students participating annually and manages over 100 coaches and athletics staff. Henry Clay has enjoyed over a century of athletics success and most recently numerous district, region, state and individual champions. Junker holds the US Soccer level of D License and the NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) level of CMAA (Certified Master Athletic Administrator) certification. He will serve as president (2026-28) for the KAAA (Kentucky Athletic Administrators Association), Kentucky’s leading AD association. He is married to Henry Clay alum Lucianne Chiles Junker and coaches club soccer for his kids in Lexington. Kristian and Lucianne have three children: Maeli, Arwen and Brunelleschi.
Lisa Hager - Assistant Athletic Director
Currently a Physical Education/Health Teacher at Henry Clay, Lisa Hager is currently in her 6th year as an assistant athletic director. She is from Lexington, KY and is a Henry Clay Graduate. In her free time she enjoys attending her sons baseball games and playing tennis.
Joe Ratliff - Assistant Athletic Director
Currently a Science Teacher at Henry Clay. Joe Ratliff is currently in his 29th year working as a Science teacher at Henry Clay, and 12 years in department leadership. 27 of those years, he has been involved in high school coaching, including 21 in tennis, 16 in football, 10 in golf, and 6 in volleyball. He has worked in Athletic Administration for 15 years including work as both an Athletic Director and an Assistant Athletic Director. Coach Ratliff also has been the National Honor Society Advisor for 24 years.
Jake Ryan - Assistant Athletic Director
Currently a Physical Education/Health Teacher at Henry Clay. Jake is currently in his 1st year as an assistant athletic director. Jake graduated from the University of Kentucky for his undergrad and the University of the Cumberlands for his masters degree. He has been on the Athletics Staff for the past 3 years working as a game manager, social media, and website editor. He also coaches the Henry Clay eSports team. He is from Lexington as well and graduated from Tates Creek High School.
Event Managers
Jody Cabble
Ryan Montgomery
Ryan graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelors and masters degree in special education, and has been a Special Education-Moderate and Severe Disabilities teacher at Henry Clay for 6 years. She began her coaching career as the girls golf assistant in 2019 before becoming head coach in 2021. She also coaches the Unified Track Team at Henry Clay.
Ryan Quennan
Keila Brown
Matt Cox
Athletic Trainers
Ellen Reinhold
Ellen Reinhold is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She completed her BS in Athletic Training from Purdue University in 2018 and her MS in Exercise and Sports Science from EKU in 2020. Although not a native Kentuckian, she has fallen in love with Lexington and the surrounding area. In her free time she enjoys exploring new eateries, backpacking, reading, playing video games, watching Lord of the Rings, and weight lifting. Catch her at a local coffee shop enjoying a pastry.
Emily Magnone
Emily is currently in her third year as Henry Clay's Associate Athletic Trainer (as well as Morton's and E.J. Hayes's Athletic Trainer). Originally from Los Angeles, CA, she received her Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Michigan in 2022, and recently graduated with her Master's Degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology and Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal Injury Management from the University of Kentucky in 2024. She enjoys being active and playing sports in her free time, as well as exploring all the fun things Lexington and Kentucky have to offer!
Custodians
Head Custodian - Anthony Lewis
Head Night Custodian - Donald Denniston
FCPS Athletic Director
Robbie Sayre
Administration
Principal - Antonio Blackman
Antonio "Tony" Blackman has been selected as the next principal for Henry Clay High School (HCHS). With over two decades of experience in education and a history of dedicated service to Fayette County Public Schools, Blackman most recently served as associate principal at Lexington Traditional Magnet School (LTMS). He will begin his new role on July 1.
"With 27 years of experience as a dedicated teacher, administrator, coach, and mentor, Mr. Blackman has proven himself to be an excellent educator and leader,” said Superintendent Demetrus Liggins. "His commitment and approach to the whole student, as well as his ability to effectively engage and communicate with staff and families, make him the ideal candidate to lead HCHS into the future.”
Blackman began his career with FCPS as a teacher at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, teaching History and Advanced Citizenship. Before joining Team FCPS in 2002 he also taught World History at Woodford County Middle School and American Studies at East Jessamine High School.
From 2005 to 2007, Blackman served as the freshman principal at Dunbar, where he planned and implemented the Freshman Academy program. He then became the associate principal and served in this position for 15 years, where he was responsible for evaluating teachers, managing student discipline, and overseeing the school’s athletic programs.
In 2022, Blackman was recruited to LTMS to serve as associate principal. There, he was instrumental in building management, school-wide drills, family engagement initiatives, and athletic program compliance. Outside of classroom and administrative roles, through the years Blackman has engaged with students and families through various roles including coaching JV football and basketball, and assisting as a coach for track and field.
“Tony has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive school culture," said Chief School Leadership Officer James McMillin. "His proven leadership skills, dedication to developing impactful instructional plans, and ability to support students both inside and outside of the classroom make him an outstanding choice to lead Henry Clay High School."
Blackman holds a master’s degree in Leadership Administration from Eastern Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Secondary Education from Asbury College. He also has professional Kentucky teacher certifications in Political Science, History, and Sociology.
Assistant Principal (Athletics) - Cory Canter
Mr. Canter is currently in my first year as Assistant Principal at Henry Clay. He spent the last six years at LTMS as an Administrator, Teacher and Athletic Director. Mr. Canter's educational background began in 2007-2008 as an educator and coach at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida. Spent 6 years in South Florida area at three different high schools. Mr. Canter currently lives in Lexington with his wife Holly (PE teacher at Garrett Morgan Elementary) and their two children, Will (8) and Molly Kate (6).
Assistant Principal - Steven Riley
Mr. Riley is a Lexington native and graduated from Tates Creek High School in 2003. He has received degrees from Eastern Kentucky University and the University of the Cumberlands. He joined the Henry Clay faculty in 2007 as a social studies teacher. Mr. Riley previously served as the school's cross country coach for 11 years. Additionally, Mr. Riley has also served as the co-intramural director, social studies department chair, SBDM teacher representative, and the 9th grade class sponsor at HCHS. Mr. Riley became an assistant principal at HCHS in 2022. Mr. Riley has three sons, Lincoln, Jackson, and Reagan, and is married to Charissa Riley, an art teacher at E.J. Hayes. Mr. Riley helps to coach his son's baseball, soccer, and basketball teams. He enjoys watching sports, listening to podcasts, and eating pizza.
Assistant Principal - Tiffany Smith
Assistant Principal - BJ Martin
Assistant Principal - JJ Allen