By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — For the second time in six years, Vancleave High won a state baseball championship.
And for the second time in six years, the Bulldogs are looking for a new head coach shortly after securing said state title.
On Monday, Justin Edwards was announced as the new head coach at Gulfport replacing veteran Admirals head coach Jamie McMahon. Edwards was an assistant under McMahon for six seasons before leaving for the Vancleave post.
“I”m so excited to have the opportunity to return to my hometown as a head baseball Coach,” Edwards said, just after accepting his new job Monday night. “The last six years at Vancleave has been such a blessing. From administration to co-workers, students, athletes, and community members. It’s truly a special place that will always have a big place in my heart.”
Edwards, a Gulfport native, led the Bulldogs to a 29-7 mark this past season en route to capturing the Class 5A state championship over Lafayette in three games at Trustmark Park in Pearl.

Despite growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Edwards was only a part of prep baseball in Jackson County for six seasons. But in that short span he became just the ninth head baseball coach in Jackson County history to win a state championship.
Edwards graduated from Gulfport’s St. John High School, which merged with Mercy Cross to form St. Patrick in 2007.
After helping McMahon build the Gulfport program into a state title contender in the largest classification, including a trip to the Class 6A state finals in his final season on the staff in 2017, Edwards joined the Bulldog program just after they had won the Class 4A state championship in 2018 which is still the only state championship in a major team sport for the school.
He replaced Daniel Best, which left VHS for Brandon High just after VHS won that state title in 2018 and ironically enough just guided the Bulldogs to the first-ever Class 7A state championship this past season as well.

“I am glad he is the guy to take over for me,” McMahon said. “We worked together for those six years and I think he is the right guy for the job. I’m glad that it worked out the way it did.”
Upon leaving St, John after a standout career on the diamond for the Eagles, Edwards was an infielder at the University of New Orleans from 2008-09 following a standout stint at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. 
All Edwards did as a head coach is guide Vancleave to six consecutive South State playoff appearances during his tenure while most of the time having to battle it out with arch-rival East Central in region play.
Vancleave was able to dethrone the Hornets this season atop Region 4-5A after the Hornets had claimed back-to-back Class 5A state championships the past two seasons. The Bulldogs eliminated East Central in three games in the Class 5A South State semifinal round.
An immediate search is underway at Vancleave for Edwards’ replacement.