By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BAY ST. LOUIS — Bay High enters a new football season under the direction of a new head coach this season.

Former Biloxi High head coach Katlan French is back in charge after spending last season as the defensive coordinator at Gulfport. Prior to that, French spent five seasons at the helm of the Indians going 34-32 in what marked his first stint as a head coach.

French is tied for the longest-tenured Indian head coach with John Williams during the playoff era, which began in 1981. In fact, out of eight BHS head coaches during that span, French is second in total number of wins.

He takes over a Tiger team that qualified for the Class 4A South State playoffs in four of the past five seasons under his predecessor Jeremy Turcotte. The Tigers went just 20-31 during five seasons under Turcotte though, including 1-4 in the playoffs.

“Considering I didn’t get here until March and we brought a new staff, I really thought we got the best out of the Spring,” French said in a recent interview. “And I thought we carried that over into the Summer and continued that development. I mean, there’s no way to know exactly where we are until we get out there but I’m proud of what I’ve seen so far.”

The Tigers will open the Katlan French era with a new quarterback also, in junior Cameron Garcia.

Garcia moves over from the defensive side of the ball, after serving as a starting linebacker last season. He’ll look to wide out Jackson Callaway for big play potential, after Callaway who produced 27 receptions for 430 yards and four Touchdowns last season.

Up front, senior tackle Aidan Sudduth will be counted upon for protection. The 6-3, 250-pound lineman will also double as a force at defensive end, where he’ll be joined by the versatile Dekaiden (DK) Johnson who started every game in 2024 and totaled over 50 tackles including five for loss and a trio of sacks.

Junior linebacker Cameron Lanning also returns for the Tigers, after he saw tons of action as a sophomore in 2024 recording 55 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries.

Bay High returns to its longtime home in Region 8-4A this season, along with Pass Christian, Moss Point, Greene County and newcomer Forrest County AHS. The Aggies replaced defending Class 4A state champion Poplarville, who replaced FCAHS in Region 7-4A this year.

. The Tigers open the new campaign on Fri., Aug.., 29th on the road in Carriere at Pearl River Central.