By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — The three month saga atop the Gulfport High baseball program continues.
Admiral Athletics Director Matt Walters confirmed to SouthMiss6 Sports Thursday morning that applications are now being taken for a new head coach to lead the GHS baseball program.
This news comes three weeks after Walters told SouthMiss6 that “Justin Edwards is our head baseball coach” when asked about about the status of the job.
Edwards began his first year at the helm of the Admirals in February but in mid-March he took a leave of absence for personal reasons. He was replaced by assistant coach Kelly Weems, who finished out the season.

At that time, as well as thereafter, no official details surrounding Edward’s departure were made official.

“Coach Edwards has decided to resign his position as head baseball coach,” Walters told SouthMiss6 Sports Thursday morning. “We wish him the best of luck moving forward. We have opened the position and have begun an open search for the next leader of our baseball program.”
Edwards came to GHS after six seasons as head coach at Vancleave immediately after he guided the Bulldogs to the Class 5A state championship two seasons ago.

The Gulfport native Edwards, who was a prep standout at the former St. John’s High, led the Bulldogs to a 29-7 mark in capturing the crown and then replaced veteran head coach Jamie McMahon at GHS.
Edwards was an assistant under McMahon for six seasons before leaving for the Vancleave post.

Weems, who was officially the “acting head coach”, stepped in to fill the role upon Edward’s departure mid-season after serving as the pitching coach for the Admirals for the prior two seasons. Prior to that, he filled the same role for 13 seasons at Harrison Central under both recent Red Rebel head coach Neil Frederic as well as longtime mentor Pat Olmi.
Weems went on to guide Gulfport to an 18-10 overall mark and to the second seed in Region 4-7A and home-field advantage in the opening round of the Class 7A South State playoffs.

In fact, even after losing to region champ Ocean Springs in a battle for supremacy in the region race in the final week of the regular season, the Admirals still finished 10-5 in league play and were one of just two teams in the loop along with OSHS that swept three of its five region series.

Petal swept GHS in the opening round of the Class 7A South State playoffs.