By CURTIS ROCKWELL

There have been a few coaching changes in the last few weeks of 2023 involving “Southern Six” squads on both the gridiron and hardwood.
First off, it didn’t take former St. Stanislaus head football coach Tim Lala long to settle again in Jackson County after leaving Hancock County. Lala was recently named as the offensive coordinator at St. Martin High under Yellow Jackets head coach Ty Smith.
“Join us in welcoming our new Offensive Coordinator, Tim Lala! Coach Lala brings an enormous amount of experience to our program. This past season, he led the St Stanislaus football team to a 9-2 record and a Division Title as the Head Coach. He has also served in various roles on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball at Pascagoula High School, Daphne, AL, Dutchtown, LA, Catholic Point Coupee and Catholic Baton Rouge. We’re excited to have him join our staff as we prepare for the 2024 season. Welcome to the Colony Coach Lala!” was the press release issued on social media early last week when Lala’s move was complete.
Lala resigned the helm of the Rock-A-Chaws after just one season as head coach because he felt the need to get back closer to his home and family in Pascagoula. “Humbled and incredibly excited to get to work with Ty Smith, his staff, and the young men of St. Martin football!” Lala said, on social media.

Martin out in Long Beach
In other coaching news, this time in girls’ basketball, Jacqueline Martin White left her position as head coach of the Long Beach Lady Bearcats after just one successful season as well.
Martin submitted her resignation to the Long Beach School Board earlier this month just after the current campaign tipped off. During the board of trustees meeting accepting her resignation, Long Beach alum Jermille Fluker was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2023-24 basketball season. Fluker is a former Bearcat standout basketball player.
White earned Region 8-5A Coach of the Year honors in her only season leading Long Beach, as the Lady Cats finished as the league runner-up and qualified for the Class 5A South State Playoffs last season.

No contest
Staying on the hardwood, but moving to the boys’ side, Pascagoula and Gulfport aren’t scheduled to meet this year for the first time in quite a while.
The Panthers and Admirals faced off in three classic and exciting contests last year, with Gulfport winning all three and none by more than four points.
Pascagoula stayed in Class 6A this season, while Gulfport moved up to Class 7A after expansion by the Mississippi High School Activities Association over the Summer.