By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

When veteran Pascagoula head coach Lewis Sims stepped down last month after 15 years at the helm of the Panthers, not many could have imagined that with the way explosive offenses have become all the rage lately on all levels of football that it would result in even more defensive oriented coaches being elevated to top jobs.

But that’s exactly what has happened here lately. And, in the larger classifications across the Gulf Coast as well.

Soon after Sims, a former standout linebacker in the “Southern Six” and well-respected defensive mind, stepped down, he was replaced by Gulfport defensive coordinator Zach Green two weeks ago.

Then, the following week, Biloxi defensive coordinator Eric Collier was elevated to the top spot with the Indians to replace the departing Jamey Dubose.

Following that, earlier this week, Columbia defensive coordinator Chris Fortenberry was named as the new head coach at Harrison Central.

Those three men will lead their respective new squads into battle beginning with the new 2026 prep football season beginning in August, sas well as Spring Training sessions that will kick off in the next couple of months.

In the case of Green and Fortenberry, both are coming off winning state championships last month with their former squads. Green directed a solid Gulfport defensive unit that went 12-2 overall and ended the season on a 11-game win streak capped off by capturing a Class 7A state title with a heart-stopping 21-20 win over defending state champion Tupelo in the title tilt.

Gulfport’s 12 wins set a new program record and brought home the first-ever state championship for the Admirals, as Green’s defenders allowed just an average of 15 points a game.

“If you have a winning program and you want to keep winning it’s really simple,” Pascagoula athletic director John Archie said. “You just go get another winner.”

Fortnenberry also brings a state title on his resume with him to Lyman to take over the helm of the Red Rebels. Columbia went a perfect 15-0 and set a school record for wins as well and beat Kosciusko 6-0 in the Class 4A state championship game.

His Wildcat defense allowed just 14 points a game in that undefeated march to the state crown.

Fortenberry also served as the head coach at Richton from 2013-2015, where he led the Rebels to the Class 2A South State playoffs twice. He was also an assistant at both Sumrall and Columbia Academy over the past 15 years.

“We are extremely excited about the level of experience and leadership Coach Fortenberry brings to Harrison Central,” principal Rachel Burt said in the statement. “His proven success, commitment to building strong relationships, and focus on developing young men align perfectly with our vision for Red Rebel Football. We are confident he will help strengthen community connections, instill pride in our program, and continue building a culture of excellence both on and off the field.”

Meanwhile, Collier takes over at the other Class 7A program in the “Southern Six” that was in search of a new head coach this off season as he steps up in the coaching chain at Biloxi after serving the past two seasons as the Indians defensive coordinator.

Collier accompanied Dubose in his trip from Lower Alabama to South Mississippi when Dubose took over as head coach at Biloxi. Prior to that, Collier spent one season on then head coach Kane Wommack’s staff at the University of South Alabama as Director of Football Development.

Before that, Collier was a successful head coach at Theodore High where he went 71-41 as the Bobcats head coach over a 10-year span. The Bobcats were especially successful in his last three seasons, winning 33 of the last 38 games under Collier. The 2022 team went 13-1 and reached the Class 6A state semifinals before losing a rematch to eventual state champion Saraland. Theodore won three region titles in his last six years.

He also spent five years with the program as an assistant coach, and was also the head coach at Alma Bryant for four seasons well going 10-30.

He has served as Dubose’s defensive coordinator over the past two seasons, as Biloxi qualified for a berth in the Class 7A South State playoffs each year.