Pascagoula Job

[coastfootballfanman]

Just now, Merlin said:

interesting to see Lacey at Hattiesburg mentioned for another 6A school coaches position after 1 season that hasn’t yet concluded in Hattiesburg.  Gives some credibility to what I was told back mid September.  
 

I have a client that we were talking high school football with. He claimed to be fairly close to booster club and all athletics at Hattiesburg.  He told me he only expected Lacey to stick around this one season.  Said there was some behind the scene things going on. Some people were not happy with his style. And toes were being stepped on.  Also wasn’t sure lacey or his family were very happy there either.  
 

I wasn’t sure how much truth there was to it.  Seems maybe there was something to it.  I had shared some texts about this with slick when it was told to me. 

Definitely would be an interesting development given the amount of success he is experiencing. I was told something similarly about a month or two ago, but I did not take it for anything serious. 

[Vott]

1 hour ago, Merlin said:

interesting to see Lacey at Hattiesburg mentioned for another 6A school coaches position after 1 season that hasn’t yet concluded in Hattiesburg.  Gives some credibility to what I was told back mid September.  
 

I have a client that we were talking high school football with. He claimed to be fairly close to booster club and all athletics at Hattiesburg.  He told me he only expected Lacey to stick around this one season.  Said there was some behind the scene things going on. Some people were not happy with his style. And toes were being stepped on.  Also wasn’t sure lacey or his family were very happy there either.  
 

I wasn’t sure how much truth there was to it.  Seems maybe there was something to it.  I had shared some texts about this with slick when it was told to me. 

Not sure why they wouldnt be happy with his style. He has them one win away from a state championship.

[Rawcones]

1 hour ago, Merlin said:

interesting to see Lacey at Hattiesburg mentioned for another 6A school coaches position after 1 season that hasn’t yet concluded in Hattiesburg.  Gives some credibility to what I was told back mid September.  
 

I have a client that we were talking high school football with. He claimed to be fairly close to booster club and all athletics at Hattiesburg.  He told me he only expected Lacey to stick around this one season.  Said there was some behind the scene things going on. Some people were not happy with his style. And toes were being stepped on.  Also wasn’t sure lacey or his family were very happy there either.  
 

I wasn’t sure how much truth there was to it.  Seems maybe there was something to it.  I had shared some texts about this with slick when it was told to me. 

They're not happy with his style??? Lol gotta love rumors 

[coastfootballfanman]

36 minutes ago, Vott said:

Not sure why they wouldnt be happy with his style. He has them one win away from a state championship.

Not saying this is the case in Hattiesburg, because obviously I do not know. However, higher ups (i.e. administration) will sometimes have a vision or want things done a certain way, or how they think it should be done. They bring in someone new who they think will do it their way and when they do not, their ego feels threatened and causes them butt heads with and sometimes to want rid of that new hire. Happens all the time in every type of job/work situation/relationship. So I could see a situation where despite on the field success, there could be some issues behind the scenes where an employee leaving may be the best option. I personally do not take much stock in this, however I heard a similar story from a completely unrelated source in the pine belt 6-8 weeks ago. Now you have this article by a news outlet that has been pretty spot on with recent coaching vacancies and rumors in multiple sports. It signals some smoke. Now, I personally do not believe there is any way he would want to leave Hattiesburg, however I felt the same way when rumors swirled that Pennock was the guy going to Gulfport. So what do I really know? LOL

Edited December 2, 2025 by coastfootballfanman

[Merlin]

3 hours ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Definitely would be an interesting development given the amount of success he is experiencing. I was told something similarly about a month or two ago, but I did not take it for anything serious. 

If I heard it from someone, then you heard similar from another source (highly unlikely same person), then it’s mentioned in an article that I doubt they would just throw the name out without knowing “something”, then it means theres smoke.  Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire. 

[Merlin]

1 hour ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Not saying this is the case in Hattiesburg, because obviously I do not know. However, higher ups (i.e. administration) will sometimes have a vision or want things done a certain way, or how they think it should be done. They bring in someone new who they think will do it their way and when they do not, their ego feels threatened and causes them butt heads with and sometimes to want rid of that new hire. Happens all the time in every type of job/work situation/relationship. So I could see a situation where despite on the field success, there could be some issues behind the scenes where an employee leaving may be the best option. I personally do not take much stock in this, however I heard a similar story from a completely unrelated source in the pine belt 6-8 weeks ago. Now you have this article by a news outlet that has been pretty spot on with recent coaching vacancies and rumors in multiple sports. It signals some smoke. Now, I personally do not believe there is any way he would want to leave Hattiesburg, however I felt the same way when rumors swirled that Pennock was the guy going to Gulfport. So what do I really know? LOL

Lol, I should have read this before I made my last post. You summed it up basically the way I was about to respond to vott as well. 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Merlin

[Merlin]

I’m going to post something that may not be liked by many, but needs to be said.  
 

Vance made Hattiesburg relevant for the first time in a long time.  And kept them there through his tenure.  That’s a credit to him.  However, I can tell you for a fact many other coaches from other programs, and officials, were not a fan of some of his ways.  For one, Hattiesburg was undisciplined and quite honestly played a bit dirty. Literally on text groups with multiple fans from other schools when one played Hattiesburg they would joke about “how many personal fouls will they get called for” and “which official does he berate first because of it”, or “will this official cave or be intimidated into not calling things they see for fear of being called a racist or Uncle Tom”.  You do not have this many people discussing these things without some truth to them.  And he had this reputation before he came to Hattiesburg per my understanding.  But he created that culture at Hattiesburg. He won some games due to it, lost some as well.
 

Now, from what I was told from this guy was basically Lacey has ambitions.  Hattiesburg is a stepping stone to get there. His ambitions are not necessarily at Hattiesburg or even in Mississippi.  He’s just getting head coaching experience and boosting the resume. Thus has some people turned off to him from the get go.  May be that why he wasn’t one of the top 3 choices for the job but it fell to him.  He comes in, and starts doing his thing, his way, and starts changing the culture.  People do not like it, they want Vance’s culture. Some heads are butting.  And perhaps on top of it all, someone in his family really does not like it here.  
 

There is only 1 reason Hattiesburg has made it this far.  The kids bought in to his change.  Hattiesburg is very noticeably more disciplined this year.  They play more “as a team”.  Lacey has been a home run hire honestly.  And the changes he made to that team are noticed.  But how much will he want to fight the fight against others in the program/school system/community who are making his job too difficult over jealousy while he is being successful?  Not likely very long because now he’s being noticed for the positive changes he’s made at a program that hasn’t had a good reputation for a few years now. 

[maroontide06]

2 minutes ago, Merlin said:

I’m going to post something that may not be liked by many, but needs to be said.  
 

Vance made Hattiesburg relevant for the first time in a long time.  And kept them there through his tenure.  That’s a credit to him.  However, I can tell you for a fact many other coaches from other programs, and officials, were not a fan of some of his ways.  For one, Hattiesburg was undisciplined and quite honestly played a bit dirty. Literally on text groups with multiple fans from other schools when one played Hattiesburg they would joke about “how many personal fouls will they get called for” and “which official does he berate first because of it”, or “will this official cave or be intimidated into not calling things they see for fear of being called a racist or Uncle Tom”.  You do not have this many people discussing these things without some truth to them.  And he had this reputation before he came to Hattiesburg per my understanding.  But he created that culture at Hattiesburg. He won some games due to it, lost some as well.
 

Now, from what I was told from this guy was basically Lacey has ambitions.  Hattiesburg is a stepping stone to get there. His ambitions are not necessarily at Hattiesburg or even in Mississippi.  He’s just getting head coaching experience and boosting the resume. Thus has some people turned off to him from the get go.  May be that why he wasn’t one of the top 3 choices for the job but it fell to him.  He comes in, and starts doing his thing, his way, and starts changing the culture.  People do not like it, they want Vance’s culture. Some heads are butting.  And perhaps on top of it all, someone in his family really does not like it here.  
 

There is only 1 reason Hattiesburg has made it this far.  The kids bought in to his change.  Hattiesburg is very noticeably more disciplined this year.  They play more “as a team”.  Lacey has been a home run hire honestly.  And the changes he made to that team are noticed.  But how much will he want to fight the fight against others in the program/school system/community who are making his job too difficult over jealousy while he is being successful?  Not likely very long because now he’s being noticed for the positive changes he’s made at a program that hasn’t had a good reputation for a few years now. 

 I know Deonte has made mention of it before, but the Hattiesburg fans in general are awful.  Not all are bad, but when we were leaving Friday it felt like I couldn't get to the car quick enough.

[Merlin]

37 minutes ago, maroontide06 said:

 I know Deonte has made mention of it before, but the Hattiesburg fans in general are awful.  Not all are bad, but when we were leaving Friday it felt like I couldn't get to the car quick enough.

Not just the fans. Even from administrators on down some are all in on that part of the culture and do not want it changed. 

[Vott]

5 minutes ago, Merlin said:

Not just the fans. Even from administrators on down some are all in on that part of the culture and do not want it changed. 

I wonder why I've never seen this "culture"and ive been attending games at HHS over 40yrs. Now far as the fans, all teams have fans whose behavior needs to be reeled in but ive never seen it where some fans feel unsafe. Hattiesburg has been given a reputation that another school used to have and it was always one of my favorite road trips and that was Moss Point. Not once did I ever feel frightened or uneasy there and a lot of times i was walking to my vehicle alone wearing my purple and gold

 

[Merlin]

4 minutes ago, Vott said:

I wonder why I've never seen this "culture"and ive been attending games at HHS over 40yrs.

 

Because you wear purple and gold colored glasses.

[Vott]

35 minutes ago, Merlin said:

Because you wear purple and gold colored glasses.

Whatever. Lol

[Merlin]

9 minutes ago, Vott said:

Whatever. Lol

I am a “homer” for my school. If anyone on this forum described me as such, I wouldn’t deny it.  I would look past some faults with my team and defend against others.  I have done it before.  But if we held a forum poll of “Who is the biggest homer, water toting, shill for their team on the forum.”  You would win. And the votes would not be close.

 

In other words. No one is surprised you don’t see the issues at Hattiesburg that literally everyone else has seen. 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Merlin

[slicklizard]

I have highlighted Lewis Sims unpredictability over the years . I have given him a little grief over the years too. 

Way back in the day as a teenager I worked for a gentleman building a fence around a gigantic  tract of land right on the river one summer. It was a strange place.  There was a huge cave on a hill  on the back side that had a 10 ft high opening .  I never went in it . I didnt like it.

There was an old turn of the century house in the middle of the place , falling in on itself. Thick hedges grew all around it and there was always  rustling , shuffling noises  coming from it when I would approach the thicket. One day I had enough and marched straight in there with my .22 magnum rifle. It was buzzards raising little ones in the living room. I never went back in there either.

It was on a dirt road and every evening as I was finishing up this kid would ride by in an old farm truck going to tend hogs  on a farm right up the road. Sometimes the kid didn't have the truck and he would walk alone going to do his chores. Rain or shine he did that every day .  That kid was Lewis Sims. We talked a few times. Not striking up a friendship or anything but he was a solid person you could tell. The summer passed , I finished school and went to college. I never returned to live in Wayne County and that summer became a clouded memory.  

Lewis followed that river all the way to it's end and became a football coach there. I recognized him as the coach at Moss Point when we were in the same classification together .

I never spoke to Lewis again but I  thought of him having to walk by that buzzard house and that cave alone sometimes in the dark after realizing where he wound up.  If I ever run up on him I am going to see if he remembers any of that time.

 

Coach Sims is leaving a solid foundation to build upon for whoever comes after him.  Pascagoula should put the man's name on something before he leaves. Just like everyday him going to that farm he gave them everything he had.

High school football  on the coast is losing a one of a kind. Yet somehow I get the impression they aren't losing him. 

Enjoy your family and retirement Lewis. You have earned it.

 

[slicklizard]

I sent that before I read through this topic

 

DAM!!!! Merl

 

 

[Merlin]

On the topic of Pascagoula,  

 

Years ago, right after meridian ended south panola’s unbeaten streak, I was talking with an assistant from petal.  He hadn’t been there long. He didn’t think anyone would ever match that streak in Mississippi.  It’s too competitive he said.  ( 5A was the largest classification at the time,  I’m sure he couldn’t foresee 7 classes and extremely watered down competition such as the current 5A).  I asked him who he thought theoretically could.  He didn’t hesitate to say “Pascagoula.  With the right coach, absolutely Pascagoula.  They have the highest numbers of underutilized raw talent in the state”.   That statement has stuck with me.  I thought of it before they came to WJ in 2012 playoffs and ripped us apart. And again when we found out we had to go to them for the 2020 south state game.  
 

 

[slicklizard]

I have to read that article but Lacey seems out for the blue for replacement. 

Although if I was someone who could halfway coach, could keep my nose clean, wasn't worried about getting credit and only wanted to get the best out of players and team I would have to take Pasc.  over Hattiesburg. From a patience and stability standpoint alone.

[Archer]

26 minutes ago, Merlin said:

On the topic of Pascagoula,  

 

Years ago, right after meridian ended south panola’s unbeaten streak, I was talking with an assistant from petal.  He hadn’t been there long. He didn’t think anyone would ever match that streak in Mississippi.  It’s too competitive he said.  ( 5A was the largest classification at the time,  I’m sure he couldn’t foresee 7 classes and extremely watered down competition such as the current 5A).  I asked him who he thought theoretically could.  He didn’t hesitate to say “Pascagoula.  With the right coach, absolutely Pascagoula.  They have the highest numbers of underutilized raw talent in the state”.   That statement has stuck with me.  I thought of it before they came to WJ in 2012 playoffs and ripped us apart. And again when we found out we had to go to them for the 2020 south state game.  
 

 

 

If he had uttered that quote at many points thru the years prior to the split with Gautier, he would've been on to something.  Pascagoula was the largest school in the state for many years and failed to capitalize on the number of athletes walking those halls -- except of course in 1987 (and 1988 as they again had the best roster in the state and the coaches botched a repeat championship) when they couldn't screw up arguably the greatest collection of football players on one roster in the history of Mississippi high school football.

 

However, his assertion that Pascagoula could've gone on a run similar to South Panola was laughable even with high level coaching.  There have been dips in talent (certainly not bad enough to have suffered back-to-back 3-8 and 1-10 seasons in 2017-2018) and they've never had the strength along the lines of scrimmage those Panola teams had.  

 

I still contend Lewis had his most talented team in his first year at Pascagoula.  If he and his initial staff had had more time coaching that group, then he may have gotten his gold ball but Picayune was too good in 2011 and they weren't good enough offensively to hang with Starkville in 2012.

[Archer]

1 hour ago, slicklizard said:

I have highlighted Lewis Sims unpredictability over the years . I have given him a little grief over the years too. 

Way back in the day as a teenager I worked for a gentleman building a fence around a gigantic  tract of land right on the river one summer. It was a strange place.  There was a huge cave on a hill  on the back side that had a 10 ft high opening .  I never went in it . I didnt like it.

There was an old turn of the century house in the middle of the place , falling in on itself. Thick hedges grew all around it and there was always  rustling , shuffling noises  coming from it when I would approach the thicket. One day I had enough and marched straight in there with my .22 magnum rifle. It was buzzards raising little ones in the living room. I never went back in there either.

It was on a dirt road and every evening as I was finishing up this kid would ride by in an old farm truck going to tend hogs  on a farm right up the road. Sometimes the kid didn't have the truck and he would walk alone going to do his chores. Rain or shine he did that every day .  That kid was Lewis Sims. We talked a few times. Not striking up a friendship or anything but he was a solid person you could tell. The summer passed , I finished school and went to college. I never returned to live in Wayne County and that summer became a clouded memory.  

Lewis followed that river all the way to it's end and became a football coach there. I recognized him as the coach at Moss Point when we were in the same classification together .

I never spoke to Lewis again but I  thought of him having to walk by that buzzard house and that cave alone sometimes in the dark after realizing where he wound up.  If I ever run up on him I am going to see if he remembers any of that time.

 

Coach Sims is leaving a solid foundation to build upon for whoever comes after him.  Pascagoula should put the man's name on something before he leaves. Just like everyday him going to that farm he gave them everything he had.

High school football  on the coast is losing a one of a kind. Yet somehow I get the impression they aren't losing him. 

Enjoy your family and retirement Lewis. You have earned it.

 

 

That's a great story.

 

Lewis is a coach you'd want your son to play for because he'd always prioritize the player's well being, maturation, and development.  I only wish he'd surrounded himself with better coaches the last decade.  

 

 

[CrimsonUnit1988]

8 hours ago, Merlin said:

I’m going to post something that may not be liked by many, but needs to be said.  
 

Vance made Hattiesburg relevant for the first time in a long time.  And kept them there through his tenure.  That’s a credit to him.  However, I can tell you for a fact many other coaches from other programs, and officials, were not a fan of some of his ways.  For one, Hattiesburg was undisciplined and quite honestly played a bit dirty. Literally on text groups with multiple fans from other schools when one played Hattiesburg they would joke about “how many personal fouls will they get called for” and “which official does he berate first because of it”, or “will this official cave or be intimidated into not calling things they see for fear of being called a racist or Uncle Tom”.  You do not have this many people discussing these things without some truth to them.  And he had this reputation before he came to Hattiesburg per my understanding.  But he created that culture at Hattiesburg. He won some games due to it, lost some as well.
 

Now, from what I was told from this guy was basically Lacey has ambitions.  Hattiesburg is a stepping stone to get there. His ambitions are not necessarily at Hattiesburg or even in Mississippi.  He’s just getting head coaching experience and boosting the resume. Thus has some people turned off to him from the get go.  May be that why he wasn’t one of the top 3 choices for the job but it fell to him.  He comes in, and starts doing his thing, his way, and starts changing the culture.  People do not like it, they want Vance’s culture. Some heads are butting.  And perhaps on top of it all, someone in his family really does not like it here.  
 

There is only 1 reason Hattiesburg has made it this far.  The kids bought in to his change.  Hattiesburg is very noticeably more disciplined this year.  They play more “as a team”.  Lacey has been a home run hire honestly.  And the changes he made to that team are noticed.  But how much will he want to fight the fight against others in the program/school system/community who are making his job too difficult over jealousy while he is being successful?  Not likely very long because now he’s being noticed for the positive changes he’s made at a program that hasn’t had a good reputation for a few years now. 

I agree with this. 

[hasbeen67]

Yes, some odd rumors. Jimmy Sexton is representing some of these guys is he?

[coastfootballfanman]

Hearing Archie Gibbs (OC at Hattiesburg), Zach Green (DC at Gulfport), Tracy Lampley (OC at Ocean Springs), Eric Hollis (Currently on staff at 'Goula), Mikey King (HC at Hancock), and Kendall Lacey (surprisingly), Eric Collier (DC at Biloxi) as names in the mix early on. Also was told Ryan Earnest has some interest and may throw his name in the hat. Also hearing there is some out of state interest, although I have not been given any specific names. 

Edited December 3, 2025 by coastfootballfanman

[Merlin]

10 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Hearing Archie Gibbs (OC at Hattiesburg), Zach Green (DC at Gulfport), Tracy Lampley (OC at Ocean Springs), Eric Hollis (Currently on staff at 'Goula), Mikey King (HC at Hancock), and Kendall Lacey (surprisingly), Eric Collier (DC at Biloxi) as names in the mix early on. Also was told Ryan Earnest has some interest and may throw his name in the hat. Also hearing there is some out of state interest, although I have not been given any specific names. 

Earnest feeling the heat in Laurel from all the players parents that think they better coaches than him undermining things?  Or the realisation things about to get a bit worse from a talent standpoint. 

[coastfootballfanman]

17 minutes ago, Merlin said:

Earnest feeling the heat in Laurel from all the players parents that think they better coaches than him undermining things?  Or the realisation things about to get a bit worse from a talent standpoint. 

Not sure. Like I said, I was just told he had some interest and was considering putting in for the job. 

[Archer]

53 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Hearing Archie Gibbs (OC at Hattiesburg), Zach Green (DC at Gulfport), Tracy Lampley (OC at Ocean Springs), Eric Hollis (Currently on staff at 'Goula), Mikey King (HC at Hancock), and Kendall Lacey (surprisingly), Eric Collier (DC at Biloxi) as names in the mix early on. Also was told Ryan Earnest has some interest and may throw his name in the hat. Also hearing there is some out of state interest, although I have not been given any specific names. 

 

Most of those names don't elicit excitement.