Six MS Coast schools have new head football coaches. Here’s what they’re walking into

A new high school football season on the Mississippi Coast is here, and with it brings new opportunities for schools around the region.

That means a fresh start for six teams who will be led by new head coaches from the highest classification down to 3A.

We break down the new leaders along the Coast and the situations they have in front of them.

Jamey DuBose, Biloxi

No coach has reached the playoffs more at Biloxi than Katlan French. The now-special teams coordinator at Gulfport took the Indians to the postseason four times in six years and was the school’s winningest coach of the century.

But BHS is still looking to get over the hump. The program hasn’t won a playoff game since 2011 and has had just four winning seasons since then. DuBose is a known program-builder from Alabama who won state championships at powerhouses Prattville at Central Phenix City.

DuBose will have the talents of the lightning-quick Jalen Anderson on offense and experienced front seven pieces to build around on defense in Coleman Gazzo and Alfredo Mejias.

Nekemia Rich, Harrison Central

The Tony Myers era came to an end after two seasons and a one-week visit to the playoffs in 2023. The Red Rebels have struggled to find consistency over the years and are hoping the promotion of Nekemia Rich can provide stability and set Harrison Central on the path to its first division championship since 1989.

Following star quarterback Tri Gaughf’s graduation and the transfer of Tyree Barnett — the Coast’s leading receiver last year — to Hattiesburg, the Red Rebels have plenty of work ahead to establish a new identity.

John Feaster, Pearl River Central

Former Sun Herald Coach of the Year John Feaster loves a challenge. Feaster brought Stone its first division title in nearly 30 years in 2022 before taking on a difficult rebuild at Moss Point. He’s now moved up the classification ladder to grab the reigns of one of the toughest 6A jobs in the state at Pearl River Central.

The Blue Devils have not made the playoffs since 2015 and have gone a dismal 18-64 since then. The good news is Feaster has the hyper-athletic Qorday Russell to work with at quarterback. Russell’s 720 rushing yards were second among Coast QBs a season ago.

Julius Bridges, Moss Point

The Tigers are on their third head coach in three years. Bridges is the school’s head baseball coach and has been serving as an assistant on the football staff for six years before taking on the interim head coaching role in June.

Largely thanks to a quickly-thinning roster, Moss Point won just five games between the last two seasons — the fewest in a two-year stretch the school has seen since 1970-71. The Tigers missed the playoffs last year for the first time in 12 years and are hoping to avoid the first multi-year drought since the early 1980s.

Tate Thigpen, St. Stanislaus

St. Stanislaus’ RPO-centric offense led by SH Player of the Year Ian Gonzalez Rioz and stout defense guided the Rock-a-Chaws to their first division title since 2016 and 11th consecutive playoff appearance. But the Rocks are now on their third head coach in three years following the departure of Tim Lala and must rebuild the offense now that Gonzalez Rioz is graduated.

Thigpen provides a bit of continuity and stability having served as the team’s offensive coordinator for the last three years. St. Stanislaus will have to overcome mass production loss from a season ago, but does benefit from the return of Sam Lejeune who had 18 tackles for loss as a freshman.

Nate Encrapera, St. Patrick

One of those recent St. Stanislaus coaches is back in the division. Nate Encrapera is the Fighting Irish’s third program head in three years. Encrapera led the Rocks from 2018 to 2022, going 28-25 and winning one playoff game in six tries.

He’ll be taking over a St. Patrick program that has one winning season as an MHSAA school in 16 years, and that came back in 2008. The Irish have lost 17 games in a row to MHSAA opponents with their last win being a COVID forfeit in 2020.

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