The Lincoln County School District has open positions for a few head coaching jobs. Here’s a look at the latest comings and goings in LCSD athletics.

 

Loyd Star looking for head football coach to replace Ford

After six seasons leading the Loyd Star Hornet football program, head coach Brian Ford is leaving the school to pursue other opportunities.

Ford finishes with a record of 32-32 in those six seasons. The Hornets won a combined 20 games in the seven seasons preceding the hiring of Ford.

During his time at the school, Loyd Star twice won Region 7-2A. Ford has previously been a head coach at McAdams, Simmons, Perry Central, Lumberton and Neshoba Central. His 2010 Lumberton team won the MHSAA 2A state championship.

His first Loyd Star team in 2017 finished 4-7. The Hornets then went 4-0 in Region 7-2A in 2018 and finished 7-4 overall. LS went through a rebuild after that, finishing 2-9 and 3-6 in 2019 and 2020.

The 2021 version of Hornet football started the season off with seven straight wins, finished 4-0 in the region and posted a 9-2 overall record.

Ford’s last LS team went 7-4 in 2022.

“I do believe we’ve been able to move the program in the right direction,” said Ford. “It feels like we’re leaving things in good shape for the next person that comes into this spot. I’ve had some good help from my assistants the last couple years and that’s been a big part in us putting together back-to-back winning seasons.”

 

Johnson has helped build WL soccer, now off to teach at Co-Lin

When he was hired to lead the boys’ soccer program in 2019, West Lincoln soccer coach Jeremy Johnson was the first coach in the young program’s history to be just that — the head soccer coach for the program.

The program had not had a coach if its’ own yet and in his first year — and the third year overall for the school to have a team — West Lincoln had a season to remember.

Johnson won Region 7-2A Coach of the Year honors, West Lincoln finished 12-5-3 and made the MHSAA Class I playoffs as the runners-up in their region.

Johnson’s leadership has helped grow the love of soccer at West Lincoln, but the future of the program will be in the hands of another moving forward as he’s accepted a teaching position at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

“After my first practice on May 28, 2019, I realized that there was real potential to build something special at West Lincoln,” said Johnson. “That first year will always be special because the West Lincoln family welcomed me with open arms and the boys, and I had and still have a unique bond.”

Johnson also helped coach the West Lincoln girls’ team in his first season before Dane Hodges was hired to fill that role late in the year. Hodges has been an assistant and Johnson has been an assistant to Hodges since then and the two have a close bond.

“He is not only a trusted colleague with a brilliant soccer mind, but he has become a dear friend of mine,” said Johnson. “All in all, this has been some of the best and most challenging times of my life and I wouldn’t change anything about my time at West Lincoln.”

Johnson will teach in the Human Performance and Recreation (HPR) department at CLCC.

 

Adams retiring after recent run of coaching hoops at Enterprise

Enterprise head basketball coach Shane Adams came into the season knowing that this would probably be his final year leading both teams at the school.

Adams wants to focus on his health and coaching both the boys’ and girls’ teams for both the high school and junior high at EAC has meant many nights on the road. With enough years accumulated to retire from the public school system, Adams plans to take a step back and figure out what’ll be next for himself personally.

Adams previously worked at Enterprise as an assistant coach in football and baseball before he was promoted to head boys’ basketball coach in 2016.

His first group of Yellow Jackets won the 2016 Lincoln County Tournament by sweeping their county rivals from Loyd Star, West Lincoln and Bogue Chitto. It was the first time for Enterprise to win the LC Tournament since 1984.

The next year, Adams took over responsibilities for the high school girls’ basketball team from longtime head coach Jill Nations.

Adams worked previously in the Brookhaven School District, at Perry Central High School and at Forrest County AHS.

“My time here at Enterprise has been a wonderful experience,” said Adams. “The move out here and back into coaching opened the door for some amazing relationships in the coaching world and in the Enterprise community for me. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to finish my career in education and coaching here at EAC. I look forward to the next chapter in my life and to also continue supporting the Yellow Jackets and the Lincoln County School District.”