Moss Point

[HailState58]

This job isn't nearly as daunting as many would have you believe.  Talent is still existent even the transfers to surrounding school districts, and Moss Point is almost always bound to pick up a few transfers each year as well.  This was the case this past season, and those players (four, to be exact) are all underclassmen who will return and make solid contributions to the team as long as they continue to be a part of it.  Make no mistake about it- there are strong names involved in this current search.  Coach Bridges had a very difficult job this past season, but he did all that he could for the kids, the school, and the city that he loves.  He is a good coach who cares greatly about Tiger athletics.  Moss Point isn't light years away from having another shot at success, and this city doesn't deserve all of the negative talk that it has received for so long.

[Archer]

17 minutes ago, HailState58 said:

This job isn't nearly as daunting as many would have you believe.  Talent is still existent even the transfers to surrounding school districts, and Moss Point is almost always bound to pick up a few transfers each year as well.  This was the case this past season, and those players (four, to be exact) are all underclassmen who will return and make solid contributions to the team as long as they continue to be a part of it.  Make no mistake about it- there are strong names involved in this current search.  Coach Bridges had a very difficult job this past season, but he did all that he could for the kids, the school, and the city that he loves.  He is a good coach who cares greatly about Tiger athletics.  Moss Point isn't light years away from having another shot at success, and this city doesn't deserve all of the negative talk that it has received for so long.

 

There's certainly good players coming thru the system as evidenced by recent kids playing at USM and Ole MIss but depth IS A DAUNTING challenge.  Maybe they can compete in 3A in a few years.

 

And anytime a city has deteriorated to the point which Moss Point has over the last 25 years then its people better be looking inwardly and into a mirror because this self-destruction didn't occur without community apathy and a disengaged citizenry.

[TigersFan]

1 hour ago, HailState58 said:

This job isn't nearly as daunting as many would have you believe.  Talent is still existent even the transfers to surrounding school districts, and Moss Point is almost always bound to pick up a few transfers each year as well.  This was the case this past season, and those players (four, to be exact) are all underclassmen who will return and make solid contributions to the team as long as they continue to be a part of it.  Make no mistake about it- there are strong names involved in this current search.  Coach Bridges had a very difficult job this past season, but he did all that he could for the kids, the school, and the city that he loves.  He is a good coach who cares greatly about Tiger athletics.  Moss Point isn't light years away from having another shot at success, and this city doesn't deserve all of the negative talk that it has received for so long.

Who are some of these strong names?

[coastfootballfanman]

1 hour ago, HailState58 said:

This job isn't nearly as daunting as many would have you believe.  Talent is still existent even the transfers to surrounding school districts, and Moss Point is almost always bound to pick up a few transfers each year as well.  This was the case this past season, and those players (four, to be exact) are all underclassmen who will return and make solid contributions to the team as long as they continue to be a part of it.  Make no mistake about it- there are strong names involved in this current search.  Coach Bridges had a very difficult job this past season, but he did all that he could for the kids, the school, and the city that he loves.  He is a good coach who cares greatly about Tiger athletics.  Moss Point isn't light years away from having another shot at success, and this city doesn't deserve all of the negative talk that it has received for so long.

What names have put in for it? I have heard the current OC who is also an MP alum has a strong shot at the job due to community support. 

Edited December 9, 2024 by coastfootballfanman

[HailState58]

18 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

What names have put in for it? I have heard the current OC who is also an MP alum has a strong shot at the job due to community support. 

The few I've heard personally are:

 

Kris Thigpen (Terry)

Kendall Lacy (current DC at Valdosta High School, Valdosta, GA)

Stephen Rice (former HC, Richton High School)

 

Each has had significant success in their careers, with Rice having done the most at Richton.  Richton has been and still continues to be a very difficult job, and Rice has led them to seasons of 8-4, 9-4, 9-6 (1A South State Championship appearance, and the only in school history), and 6-6.  Of the current candidates, his resume stands out the most.  Also, throw a four-year tenure at Crystal Springs into the mix as well.  This guy has no fear when it comes to hard gigs.

 

Thigpen has done very well at Terry the past two seasons, but I've heard that he applies elsewhere each year mainly in an attempt to leverage himself for more solidity at Terry.  It's seemingly a good place for him.

 

Lacy is a younger guy who applied for the Quitman job before, but wasn't offered a favorable teaching position along with the HFC job that would have allowed him to be as successful.  Therefore, he turned it down.  However, and although he makes a great salary at Valdosta as the DC, he continues to be on the lookout for his first chance to lead a program.  He seems like a high-energy, well-structured, ambitious candidate.  He's originally from Wetumpka, Alabama.

[maroontide06]

14 minutes ago, HailState58 said:

The few I've heard personally are:

 

Kris Thigpen (Terry)

Kendall Lacy (current DC at Valdosta High School, Valdosta, GA)

Stephen Rice (former HC, Richton High School)

 

Each has had significant success in their careers, with Rice having done the most at Richton.  Richton has been and still continues to be a very difficult job, and Rice has led them to seasons of 8-4, 9-4, 9-6 (1A South State Championship appearance, and the only in school history), and 6-6.  Of the current candidates, his resume stands out the most.  Also, throw a four-year tenure at Crystal Springs into the mix as well.  This guy has no fear when it comes to hard gigs.

 

Thigpen has done very well at Terry the past two seasons, but I've heard that he applies elsewhere each year mainly in an attempt to leverage himself for more solidity at Terry.  It's seemingly a good place for him.

 

Lacy is a younger guy who applied for the Quitman job before, but wasn't offered a favorable teaching position along with the HFC job that would have allowed him to be as successful.  Therefore, he turned it down.  However, and although he makes a great salary at Valdosta as the DC, he continues to be on the lookout for his first chance to lead a program.  He seems like a high-energy, well-structured, ambitious candidate.  He's originally from Wetumpka, Alabama.

Johnny Carpenter from Citronelle, AL wore #58 for Mississippi State.  Is that you Johnny?

[coastfootballfanman]

1 hour ago, HailState58 said:

The few I've heard personally are:

 

Kris Thigpen (Terry)

Kendall Lacy (current DC at Valdosta High School, Valdosta, GA)

Stephen Rice (former HC, Richton High School)

 

Each has had significant success in their careers, with Rice having done the most at Richton.  Richton has been and still continues to be a very difficult job, and Rice has led them to seasons of 8-4, 9-4, 9-6 (1A South State Championship appearance, and the only in school history), and 6-6.  Of the current candidates, his resume stands out the most.  Also, throw a four-year tenure at Crystal Springs into the mix as well.  This guy has no fear when it comes to hard gigs.

 

Thigpen has done very well at Terry the past two seasons, but I've heard that he applies elsewhere each year mainly in an attempt to leverage himself for more solidity at Terry.  It's seemingly a good place for him.

 

Lacy is a younger guy who applied for the Quitman job before, but wasn't offered a favorable teaching position along with the HFC job that would have allowed him to be as successful.  Therefore, he turned it down.  However, and although he makes a great salary at Valdosta as the DC, he continues to be on the lookout for his first chance to lead a program.  He seems like a high-energy, well-structured, ambitious candidate.  He's originally from Wetumpka, Alabama.

Hard to imagine a guy like Lacy leaving a place like Georgia (especially as a DC at a great program like Valdosta) for what is left of Moss Point. If true, sounds like he would be a great candidate for Moss Point though. I wonder if the new coach would have freedom to bring in his own assistants? Moss Point did not look well prepared in the games I saw. I know the talent was down, but they looked lost at times on both sides of the ball. 

[Archer]

14 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Hard to imagine a guy like Lacy leaving a place like Georgia (especially as a DC at a great program like Valdosta) for what is left of Moss Point. If true, sounds like he would be a great candidate for Moss Point though. I wonder if the new coach would have freedom to bring in his own assistants? Moss Point did not look well prepared in the games I saw. I know the talent was down, but they looked lost at times on both sides of the ball. 

 

Yeah, not to impugn the credibility of that contributor, but I don't believe any of those names are remotely in the running. 

[HailState58]

17 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Hard to imagine a guy like Lacy leaving a place like Georgia (especially as a DC at a great program like Valdosta) for what is left of Moss Point. If true, sounds like he would be a great candidate for Moss Point though. I wonder if the new coach would have freedom to bring in his own assistants? Moss Point did not look well prepared in the games I saw. I know the talent was down, but they looked lost at times on both sides of the ball. 

 

I'm not sure about the ability to bring in assistants, as that would largely have to do with the teaching spots they'd have available.  Money is a factor right now at Moss Point, so I don't see the district so easily creating new positions for incoming assistant coaches.  This is not the fault of the district, however, as state funding is turning over into a new organization called INSPIRE (formerly, MAEP).  Moss Point, unfortunately, will be affected by this along with just a handful of other districts in the state.  The district is projected to lose more than $1.5M in funding, whereas a district like Ocean Springs is projected to get over $10M the next few years.  Moss Point and the other districts are being excluded from the new system for the first couple of years, and no one knows for sure why.  The decision is being appealed.  This goes much deeper than just hiring a new Head Football Coach.

[coastball]

1 hour ago, maroontide06 said:

Johnny Carpenter from Citronelle, AL wore #58 for Mississippi State.  Is that you Johnny?

Lol. 

[Tartar nation 98]

On 12/5/2024 at 8:47 AM, Merlin said:

Everyone at every level in Taylorsville want out badly.  Parents try to get their kids in other schools as well.  Taylorsville is a sinking ship in every facet. 

It’s not the principals in Taylorsville. I’m told that they love her and she is starting to turn things around. I haven’t heard of any coaches leaving other than an assistant was supposed to interview. Guess we will know soon. 

[Tartar nation 98]

On 12/5/2024 at 9:09 AM, Rebel Bert said:

My understanding it's the principal along with a few other issues.

It’s not the principal. 

[Rebel Bert]

5 hours ago, Tartar nation 98 said:

It’s not the principals in Taylorsville. I’m told that they love her and she is starting to turn things around. I haven’t heard of any coaches leaving other than an assistant was supposed to interview. Guess we will know soon. 

That's not what we hearing out in the county. Maybe the word got her.

[Tartar nation 98]

6 hours ago, Rebel Bert said:

That's not what we hearing out in the county. Maybe the word got her.

Just what I’ve been told in the community. 

[Rebel Bert]

3 hours ago, Tartar nation 98 said:

Just what I’ve been told in the community. 

I was told earlier this year she was on a short list to go. I guess if they do not give her a contract extension then we will know. More or less getting rid of Hillman hires. 

[HailState58]

An update on the situation:

 

Heard today that there will be a hiring committee for the process.

 

-and-

 

No interviews will be held until after Christmas Break.

[coastball]

Any updates on this spot? The names I heard are not very good options.

[coastfootballfanman]

6 minutes ago, coastball said:

Any updates on this spot? The names I heard are not very good options.

Was told pool of candidates were not very good overall. Looks like a situation in which they will have to settle for who just wants to be a Head Coach. 

[Vott]

23 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Was told pool of candidates were not very good overall. Looks like a situation in which they will have to settle for who just wants to be a Head Coach. 

It is unreal to see just how far Moss Point football has fallen. When Class 5a was the biggest class in MS, the Moss Point football program was the best in the state for many years. This was right before South Panola was about to become University of South Panola. As a Hattiesburg fan I always looked forward to that matchup. Even liked playing in Dantzler Stadium. In the one time HHS played there about 5yrs ago it was about like playing a Jackson Public School team. Maybe a couple hundred in the stands and then after halftime the stadium was pretty much empty.

[BrickCity]

6 minutes ago, Vott said:

It is unreal to see just how far Moss Point football has fallen. When Class 5a was the biggest class in MS, the Moss Point football program was the best in the state for many years. This was right before South Panola was about to become University of South Panola. As a Hattiesburg fan I always looked forward to that matchup. Even liked playing in Dantzler Stadium. In the one time HHS played there about 5yrs ago it was about like playing a Jackson Public School team. Maybe a couple hundred in the stands and then after halftime the stadium was pretty much empty.

Mr Vott im sorry to hear about this. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers

[Vott]

4 minutes ago, BrickCity said:

Mr Vott im sorry to hear about this. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers

Dude just go away forever. 

[BrickCity]

6 minutes ago, Vott said:

Dude just go away forever. 

you right my bad. 2025 new year new me. 

[Vott]

4 minutes ago, BrickCity said:

you right my bad. 2025 new year new me. 

A new you still makes you a p--ck

[BrickCity]

7 minutes ago, Vott said:

A new you still makes you a p--ck

now that was uncalled for. You leave me no choice. I will cheer for Laurel now

[Vott]

8 minutes ago, BrickCity said:

now that was uncalled for. You leave me no choice. I will cheer for Laurel now

Nothing has changed. You never wanted to HHS to win anyway. Im out.