WEST POINT — The Green Wave saw an important member of the coaching staff recognized for his work in another banner year for the program. Defensive Coordinator Charles Herron was named Defensive Coordinator of the Year by the Mississippi Young Black Coaches organization.
Young Black Coaches was founded in 2022 and provides workshops and resources to aid and recognize the work of young black football coaches in the state. The organization also recognizes a standout head coach and offensive and defensive coordinator at the end of each season.
Herron’s defensive unit registered two shutouts in 2024 and held opponents to two scores or fewer in nine games. In the state title game, the defense created two key turnovers before halftime. Both led to touchdowns as West Point raced to a 28-7 lead in the eventual 28-21 win.
“It’s the backbone of the team,” Green Wave head coach Brett Morgan said of the defense this season, “as we expected coming into the year, but we continue to work hard every day and we need to make sure we’re clicking in all phases.”
When Morgan was named West Point head coach, he made a point of keeping the existing staff together, including Herron as the defensive coordinator. He kept his players “committed to 12-6” all season until it came time for 12-6 when the Green Wave defeated Gautier to claim a second-straight Class 5A title.
“We’re leaning on (the defense), and we’re going to need to get them crutches as hard as we’re leaning on them, but they keep fighting and that’s what they want,” Morgan said after the district title decider in November. “We’ve got eight starters back from last year, they’ve been in the fire and they play for four quarters. Our staff does a great job preparing them for that and I can’t say enough about them.”
Herron has been on the coaching staff for five of West Point’s state titles in the past nine years, and also had a stint as defensive coordinator at Starkville from 2019-2021.
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