STARKVILLE – Before the news broke on Friday that Brett Morgan was ending his 17-year tenure on staff of West Point’s football program, the last two as head coach, to take up the mantle as Starkville’s head football coach, the former Mississippi State quarterback and eight-time state champion with the Green Wave had spent many days prior in deep thought combing over the seismic proposition that laid at his feet.
It wasn’t an easy decision; he spent many hours praying as he searched for guidance until he had his answer. Morgan said it was “God” who brought him to Starkville to usher in a new era for the Yellow Jackets.
“God,” he said. “That’s all it was. I love West Point, I (have) over 17 years of relationships and hard work put into that program and was just extremely happy there. God opened the door for me; it was just his will. I’ve gone through some steps of prayer and fasting and praising to seek his will and he just revealed to me and made it clear that Starkville is where I’m supposed to be. I’m stepping out in faith and I’m extremely excited. Starkville is just a great opportunity. The administration is incredible, the fan base is hungry and I’m just so excited about what God is going to do through this and I’m just ready to get rolling.”
Starkville athletic director Jay Hopson said he’s also fired up about Morgan donning the black and yellow. Morgan was high on his list of candidates to replace former head coach John Carr, who left the program to become the chief of staff of the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League.
“One thing that was important to us was to get someone local who understands the community and wants to be at Starkville and wants to invest in the community,” Hopson said. “We feel like we got an outstanding coach and couldn’t be happier. … Coach Morgan has not only been a consistent winner, he’s a guy who played college football at Mississippi State, so he’s a great football player and comes from one of the top football families in Mississippi. His dad was a hall of fame coach, his uncle is a hall of fame coach and he’s won countless state championships at West Point. He’s just been an extremely great high school football coach, so it’s kind of been in his blood a long time. We’re excited.”
In his two years as head coach of West Point, Morgan led the Green Wave to a 24-4 record and 2024 Class 5A state championship, a 28-21 victory over Gautier. After coaching his team to a 13-0 run to the 2025 5A state title game, Morgan and his squad fell short of the program’s second third-ever three-peat in a 31-19 loss to Brookhaven. In his first season with the Yellow Jackets, Morgan will be tasked with getting the team past the first round of the Class 7A playoffs, where Starkville fell short last year in a 6-5 finish to the season.
“I’m just excited. It’s a new mission field for Christ, number one. Number two, I’m excited about what we can do on the football field,” Morgan said. “You are at the top of the state. It’s 7A football, it doesn’t get any better. Starkville’s schedule is – I’ve been at West Point and played tough early season schedules, and now Starkville plays that same toughness of the early season. You get the Golden Triangle, you get the Oak Groves and the Brandons and you turn around and go straight into the district that we’re in. At a competitive level it just doesn’t get any better. As a competitor, I’m excited about that, but I know it’s going to take time. We’re expecting to win this year and we are going to start working to win this year.”
One reason he’s already fired up to hit the field is who the Yellow Jackets have at quarterback – Kingston Johnson. Johnson showcased his lethal dual-threat abilities during his first season with the Jackets last season, including setting a new school passing record (486 yards) in his first appearance. Morgan said he is bringing that same physical edge West Point is known for in the run game and on defense, but with a new Starkville flair.
“We are going to do what our athletes can do,” he said. “We have an incredible talent at the quarterback position and I’m just so excited to get to work with him and just excited to see where we can grow this offense. We are going to utilize his talents and we’re going to also have the smash-mouth approach of what we’ve always done at West Point. We are going to blend that and merge it like any good staff would do. We are going to play very physical on defense, we are going to run and tackle the football, we are going to play clean special teams and we are never going to lose the physicality and the smash-mouth approach of our offense and what we did at West Point. But also, we’d be fools not to use who I think may be one of the top players in Mississippi. So, I’m just excited about blending that for the betterment of our team. We are going to do what it takes to win. Everybody is pulling for one common goal, and (I’m) just excited to see where that goes.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
