Scott Leggett is the new head football coach at Enterprise andRicky Deere believes his replacement will do a good job. The hiringof Leggett was approved Monday night by the Lincoln County SchoolBoard.

“I wish Scott all the luck in the world,” said Deere. “We havehad a lot of good times coaching the team.”

Enterprise has enjoyed unprecedented success during Deere’s fiveyears at the helm. The Yellow Jackets advanced to the Class 1Astate playoffs the past two years, posting identical 7-5 records.Overall, Deere compiled a 25-28-1 worksheet on the varsity level atEnterprise. The Jackets enjoyed three straight winning seasons.

“I would like to thank Coach Craig Hennington and Coach ScottLeggett for their efforts in assisting me during the past fiveyears,” said Deere. “Coach Hennington and I started from scratchwith a very weak football team.

“We probably had the worst dressing facilities in the state,”Deere pointed out. “Thanks to Mr. Bruce Falvey, the EnterpriseBooster Club and some concerned parents, they provided us with anew field house that we so desperately needed.”

Deere added several weight machines, weight benches and barbellsto the weightlifting program. The Jackets improved from 1-9, to4-5-1 and 6-4 in Deere’s first three years at the school.

During the next two seasons, both 7-5, several of Deere’splayers signed college football scholarships. Brent Boyd, ShermaineVaughn, Bobby Smith, Gerard Vaughn, Dale Holmes and Bobby Lambertsigned with Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Josh Pruden signedwith Belhaven.

“I’m also proud of our junior high team which went 38-12,” saidDeere. He taught biology at Enterprise.

Deere, 47, said he has enjoyed the last five years atEnterprise. “We’ve had a good run at Enterprise. We’ve won a lot ofgames in a very tough region.”

On Oct. 1, 1998, Deere suffered a near-fatal stroke. He wasdiagnosed with a hemorrhagic stroke and hospitalized in Jackson forseveral weeks.

“Since I’ve had that stroke, it has been real tough on me,” saidDeere, describing his health. “Mr. Falvey let me run the footballprogram and that means a lot to me.”

Deere graduated from Pearl River Central. He attended PearlRiver Community College and played guard on the football team. Helater attended the University of Southern Mississippi and obtaineda master’s degree in biology and school administration from WilliamCarey College. He has 25 1/2 years teaching in Mississippi.

Falvey said Deere had made a major impact on the footballprogram. “We will greatly miss Ricky Deere. He did a great job. Hehelped us build a winning attitude at Enterprise.

“Coach Deere had a great relationship with the kids,” Falveycontinued. “They respected him and worked hard for him. Heemphasized his efforts in building our weight program.”

Falvey said he believed Leggett would do a solid job as headcoach. “I think Scott is a fine young man. He had done a great jobworking with Ricky. He is capable of becoming a good head coach.The kids know him.

“We must all get behind Scott and support him,” Falvey stressed.”He was a great asset to Ricky.”

Kris Smith and Greg Williams are helping Leggett with thecoaching chores. Williams comes to Enterprise from Independence,La., and Smith is from Bogue Chitto. Smith was teaching at LoydStar last year.

“I’m looking forward to being head coach at Enterprise,” saidLeggett. “I’m real excited about it. I’ve been coaching them forthree years. The senior group was in ninth grade when I gothere.”

Leggett graduated from Bogue Chitto in 1993. He attendedCopiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of SouthernMississippi. He majored in athletic training and sports medicine.He coached one year at Brookhaven Academy. This is his fourthseason at Enterprise where he teaches U.S. History.

“We are going to keep the same system,” said Leggett. “We arereal multiple on offense.”

The Jackets kick off their season Aug. 29, at Wesson.