Shawn Gates is proud of what he helped accomplish at Immanuel Christian.

Now that Gates is looking to play a part in building something else, the timing is right for Greg Watkins to move into a new opportunity.

Gates” resignation last week after two seasons as football coach at Immanuel Christian created an opening the school filled today when it named Watkins, the athletic director, football coach, and basketball coach at Hebron Christian, as its new football coach.

Watkins also will work with Immanuel Christian administrator Bob Williford as an athletic director. Williford said Friday that Watkins ultimately will take over all of the duties as AD.

“He has been so successful and has such a great track record in coaching, whether it is football, basketball, or baseball,” Williford said of Watkins. “He has been an All-Star coach and he has been secretary of our MAIS district for years. He brings a wealth of experience and success to our school.”

Watkins spent the past two years as football coach at Hebron Christian, guiding the team to a 5-15 record. He also served as coach of the school”s basketball teams and the baseball team in addition to his responsibilities as athletic director.

“I had to wear many hats,” Watkins said. “I am really excited about going over there. It is in a tremendous area, and they are moving up to AA. They have a lot of kids, and I am looking forward to building that program up.”

Watkins accepted the position last Friday. He has coaching experience at East Holmes Christian, which has since closed, and at Winona Christian. Williford said he has known Watkins for at least six years and that familiarity helped make the search for a new coach easy when he learned of Watkins” interest in the position.

“We had a pretty good relationship over the years and had always said, ”Maybe one day we will work together,” and bam it happens,” Williford said.

Watkins said the growth of Immanuel Christian made the job as football coach appealing. Still, he said the decision to leave a great situation at Hebron Christian was tough.

“My three years at Hebron Christian have been great years,” Watkins said. “God opened the door and backed me up at Hebron. Everyone at Hebron helped me get through some tough situations.”

Watkins said he will help boys and girls basketball coaches Billy Thomas and Jenny Hutcherson as much as time allows, but that his focus will be on football and his work as AD.

Williford praised the work of Gates, who was a part-time coach at the school.

“He did some great things,” Williford said. “All we do is wish him the best. He is a great young man, and we appreciate everything he did for us.”

Gates, 26, attended Immanuel Christian in 1999 and 2000. He graduated from Heritage Academy in 2004.

“I am trying to better myself, and I am trying to do what is best for my family,” Gates said.

Gates, who trains as a kickboxer and as a boxer, worked at Immanuel Christian as a weightlifting instructor. He earned All-Area and All-Conference honors in high school before moving on to play one season of football at East Mississippi Community College. He then served as a coach for one season at EMCC and played football at North Greenville University (S.C.) in 2006.

In 2007, he worked as an assistant coach at Heritage Academy before taking a job as an assistant coach for the Mississippi Mudcats.

In 2009, he had earned a spot in the Georgia Force”s camp before the Arena League suspended the 2009 season.

Gates, who was hired with baseball coach and defensive coordinator Daniel Merchant, helped guide the Rams to a 6-6 finish and a trip to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A playoffs. Tri-County defeated Immanuel Christian 48-0.

Still, the season was a success in that the Rams advanced to the 11-man playoffs for the first time in school history. The trip to the playoffs was the school”s first since 2006, when it lost to Tri-County in the eight-man playoffs.

Immanuel Christian also posted a 51 points in a victory against Calhoun Academy and 56 in a win against North River, an eight-man team from Alabama. It also defeated Houlka 14-13 on Oct. 1 for its first victory against an 11-man team.

“I had a really good time there,” Gates said. “I enjoyed Mr. (Bob) Williford. He is a great guy and a good headmaster. The kids there taught me a lot, and I taught them. I think my time there will help me in the future. We did some good things, and I felt I set a good stepping stone.

“It was a difficult decision, but it was something I had to get it over with and move on because my family comes first. There are a few things out there that could me help me do better by myself and for my family that deal with coaching.”

Gates said his decision to resign wasn”t influenced by Immanuel Christian”s move to Class AA in MAIS. The jump in classification will see the school play a higher level of competition, which includes Oak Hill Academy and Winston Academy.

Gates also said the possible transfer of several members of the football team to other schools in the area didn”t play into his thinking.

“Michael Tate will be up for the challenge, Jeremy Davidson will be up for the challenge, and there are a few others who will be up for the challenge,” Gates said. “I believe they are going to be fine. It wasn”t a decision to walk away because they were going to go to AA. My family comes first, and I feel I have opened the door for the next coach to do a good job.”

Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.