MEADVILLE — The 2004-05 basketball season was an extraordinaryone for boys coach Chris Jordan and his Franklin CountyBulldogs.

Jordan started basketball season without his five startersbecause they were in the Class 3A state football playoffs. Oncethey joined the team it was a short matter of time before whenJordan realized he had a special group on his hand.

Jordan and the Bulldogs marched through the Division 7-3A, SouthState and to the State Tournament in the Mississippi Coliseum inJackson. They made it to the championship game where they fell toHolly Springs 47-35. They ended the season 24-8.

For his accomplishments, Jordan has been selected as THE DAILYLEADER’S 2005 Coach of the Year. This is the third time Jordan hasbeen named area coach. He was selected in 1996 and 1997. His careerrecord is 242 win and 158 losses.

“if you don’t have the good kids, you don’t get the honor,” saidJordan of being named Coach of the Year. “These guys played on ahigh level.”

“We played a team game, “added Jordan. “The kids understoodthat.”

This was the first year that Jordan had that many key players onthe football team.

“I had them all summer and we were 22-1, ” said Jordan. I had anidea they could be pretty good. They understood team play. Theyunderstood the inside/outside of my strategy.”

This year’s team scored the most points ever in one game, 84,since 1992.

“i took those five big guys and we did what we did,” statedJordan. “They love to win. They got the job done.”

The Bulldogs division is no cakewalk. It’s loaded.

“Our division is tough,” explained Jordan. “If you can get outof it, you cane get to state. Port Gibson, Hazlehurst, WilkinsonCounty, they are all good teams.”

Against Wilkinson in late January, Jordan got a clear idea ofhow tough his team was.

“Deandrea Davis was fold and made two free throws,” statedJordan in their game against Wilkinson at Woodville. “We struggledall the game and we were still able to win it (43-41). Winning onthe road gives you an idea of how good the guys were.”

“We had to play good defense,” said Jordan. “We didn’t give up alot of points. We tried to win it rebounding. Our shot selection,we didn’t average many points.”

Jordan is a graduate of Bel-Air High School in Baton Rouge, La,He served as a manager under Coach Tommy Hess who had playedbasketball with the legendary “Pistol” Pete Maravich. “I enjoyedthe practices.”

Jordan went on to college and graduated from the University ofSouthern Mississippi with a degree in social studies/secondaryeducation /athletic administration.

Before moving to Franklin County, Jordan coached at ACS. AtFranklin, he teaches geography and civics at the high school.

Jordan still raises registered beagles when time allows. He andhis wife Robyn have been married for 18 years. They are members ofMt. Olive Baptist Church.

‘It been a good year for our school,” added Jordan. “It was agood year for our teams. A good year in athletics for ourteams.”