It’s a homecoming of sorts for Willie Brumfield. He has been named West Lincoln’s head football coach for the second time in his coaching career. The Lincoln County School Board made it official at a Monday night meeting.

     Brumfield, 43, coached West Lincoln in 2002, posting a 1-10 record. He replaces Chris Calcote who stepped down after four years at the helm.

      Calcote, 60, a Franklin County native, posted an overall record of 4-37 at West Lincoln. He accepted the position of athletic director at Franklin County last month.

     Brumfield, a 1986 graduate of Salem High School in Walthall County, has coached the last three seasons at South Jones in Ellisville. He served on Coach Chet Bergalowski’s staff last season, coaching wide receivers and running backs.

      “We want to build a competitive program at West Lincoln,” said Brumfield. “With reenrollment numbers going up, we have the tools to work with. We have some great  kids.”

     Spring practice began Monday, with Calcote overseeing the sessions. Around 35 players are participating.

     Brumfield is in charge of the South Jones golf teams, girls and boys. Their district tournaments are this week and next. He will be on the West Lincoln campus this week for a few days.

     “We are excited about having Coach Brumfield back,” said West Lincoln principal Jason Case. “I remember that the players really enjoyed playing for him. The community liked him a lot, too.”

     Case said Brumfield has the ability to inspire and instruct football players. “We are looking forward to him building our football program. He seems to have a knack for getting those kids to come out.

     “He will be on campus all day so he can confer with the kids during break and at lunch,” Case pointed out, referring to school this fall.

     Calcote had retired from his position of athletic director at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College after 12 years. A Franklin County native, he seized the opportunity at West Lincoln and began coaching again. He worked half days during the football season, usually arriving on campus around noon.

     Brumfield and his wife, the former Patty Sullivan of Bay Springs, have two

daughters: Sarah Grace, 7; and Hannah, 6.

     Before coaching at South Jones, Brumfield worked two years as head coach at Salem. Prior to that, he coached at Class 6A Oak Grove. He left West Lincoln 10 years ago to pursue additional degrees at Southern Miss while working at Oak Grove Middle School.

     Brumfield obtained a special degree in administration from Southern Miss and later a master’s degree in sports administration. He also attended Hinds Community College.

     “It was a tough decision to leave West Lincoln,” said Brumfield. “West Lincoln has a tremendous community and great people to work with. I appreciate Jason Case for giving me the opportunity to come back.”

     Asked about his approach to coaching, Brumfield said, “My philosophy is you have to work with the players you have and make them successful. We want to be sound in fundamentals.”

     Last season West Lincoln played an independent schedule and posted a 2-6 record. Before last year, the football team was a member of Region 4-1A.

     West Lincoln is scheduled to host a jamboree May 10, on Perry Miller Field.