By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — There have been almost 20 head coaching changes in various sports in the “Southern Six” over the past six months.
However, no new hire may face as much pressure in changing direction as will Brian Butler at Gulfport High.
That’s because the Admiral boys basketball program will have its third head coach in a three year span for the first time in almost 90 years when the new school year starts. And Butler is now in charge.
“It’s been awesome,” Butler said, Thursday afternoon. “It’s everything I thought it would be and then some. The players are great, they’re hard workers and fun to be around. And the administration has been super supportive and welcoming, and the program is definitely on the climb.”
Butler comes to the Coast from Columbia High, where he spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Wildcats. He also becomes the first ever African-American head basketball coach at Gulfport High.

In addition to that, the Admirals are coming off one of its most futile seasons on the hardwood in the long and storied history of the program, finishing with a 9-21 overall record that wrapped up with a loss on the road to eventual state Class 7A state champion Meridian in the opening round of the state playoffs.
Two days later, first-year head coach Steve Hesser was out of a job, leaving Gulfport after recording the least amount of wins and the most amount of losses in his lone single season in at least the past 90 years in program history. It marked the first time in over 80 years that a Gulfport head boys basketball coach lasted just one season on the job.
In steps Butler, who has been a head coach at several stops in South Mississippi for the past 12 years. He is a Mississippi Gulf Coast native, who played for current University of Southern Mississippi head coach Jay Ladner at St. Stanislaus in the early 2000’s.

“We’ve had great practices and really worked on bonding as a team,” Butler added. I couldn’t ask for more so far.”
Butler has guided his Admirals to summer camps at both Southern Miss and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and according to the new head coach Gulfport “dominated” their Summer League action at Long Beach High. Gulfport also hosted a Future Starts Shootout as well as conducted the first ever Bert Jenkins Summer Shootout.

Butler knew the situation he was stepping into when he was hired.
“It’s one of the premiere coaching positions in the state of Mississippi, and probably the only one I would have left Columbia for.” he said, just after getting the job. “It’s a great opportunity for me. When you step into that position there’s a lot of big shoes to fill, but I feel like I’m ready for the challenge.”