STARKVILLE — A new Starkville High School football coach has been hired, but the district is waiting until Monday to announce the name.
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District’s board of trustees met Friday and approved the hire. Per district sources, SOCSD will announce the hire until the new coach has time to inform his current team of his decision to leave for Starkville, Communications Director Haley Montgomery said.
Superintendent Tony McGee had been the acting Athletic Director from 2023 until earlier this week when Jay Hopson was introduced as the new AD, taking over the search for a new head coach.
“That’s definitely job No. 1,” Hopson told The Dispatch on Tuesday. “We want to hire a coach who is dedicated to developing student-athletes. We want to compete for championships but we also want to make sure that we’re developing players and building a program. We have a lot of strong candidates with strong interest, and we want to make sure we’re getting the right guy for Starkville.”
It evidently didn’t take Hopson long to find that person.
The position had been vacant since late December when former head coach Chris Jones left to take the head coaching job at Hinds Community College.
Jones left Starkville with an 84-25 overall record, including a 16-6 mark in the playoffs, in eight seasons at the helm in Starkville. He oversaw North State championships in Class 6A and 7A, as well as a 6A state championship in 2022.
In 2024 the Jackets finished 7-5 and lost to eventual 7A champions Tupelo in the playoffs.
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.
