By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

BAY ST. LOUIS — Most people have heard of a newlywed couple trying to reveal to their new spouse their “best side”, so to speak, at least for the first year or so of marriage.

However, the Rigby’s of Bay St. Louis may have already taken that to a different level.

When Anna Grace Cooley of Lucedale became the wife of Jerrod Rigby in early June of last year, and they settled here in the grooms home town, Cooley had just come off of winning a state championship as the first-year softball head coach of her alma mater George County High School.

Then, almost nine months to the day after the marriage, Rigby, a former basketball standout at St. Stanislaus, was on the bench in Jackson in his role as an assistant coach for the Rock-A-Chaws as the delivered a state title at The Mississippi Coliseum.

Now, this week, it’s the wife’s turn again to bring home the bacon as Anna Grace and her Lady Rebels open Class 6A state championship round play vs. South Panola in Hattiesburg as they attempt to become the first program in GCHS history in any sport to bring home back-to-back state titles.

And the couple hasn’t even celebrated their first anniversary yet.

“The summer of 2025 was the summer of rings for Anna Grace,” Jerrod quipped, in an exclusive interview with the couple with SouthMiss6 Sports Sunday afternoon. “I mean it was all very exciting for us.”

“We won a state championship and then three weeks later I became his wife,” Anna Grace said. “Wedding planning during a state championship run should be an Olympic sport.”

Jerrod spoke about standing on the verge of impending nuptuials for both with a state championship at stake.

“It was nerve-racking to say the absolute least,” he added. “Just ask the parents of her players, they mess with me about pacing around the field during the games! I wasn’t nearly as worried about the wedding as I was her games. It was an awesome experience and I couldn’t have been more proud of her or her girls. The genuine bond and love she has for her girls is second to none. She loves them like they are her children, and so do I. It has been a really special experience for me to be a part of and have a behind the scenes look at it all.”

They couple was engaged when Anna Grace accepted the position as head coach of her alma mater just over a year after the Lady Rebels won the 2023 state title while she was an assistant coach.

“To be completely blunt, when I accepted the job it was expected of me to get us back to the State Championship from a lot of people,” she added. “So we went to work and did everything we could to get us there. During the whole season, I never really thought about that. We just took it pitch by pitch, and then before I knew it we were preparing for game three of the State Championship. Half the team having was getting Iv’s recovering from the flu, and then the next thing I know we are holding a banner. It all happened so fast, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it, and my husband played a huge role in keeping me sane throughout all of it. People don’t realize how much the spouses of coaches sacrifice, but Jerrod loves it all and I’m so grateful for that.”

“That day they won it was so special, I will never forget it.” Jerrod continued. “And like I said before, it’s just all so genuine with her and her team, so it makes it all that much better.”

Then, nine months later, another ring arrived to the Rigby household. Only this time, the roles were reversed.

This time, Anna Grace was amongst the crowd as SSC captured the Class 3A Gold Ball at “The Big House”.

In addition, Jerrod holds down a full time job with his fathers accounting company as well. And just like the time span of getting ready for the wedding, the end of hoops season is a busy one as well for that line of work.

“Extremely proud, to say the least.” Anna Grace said. “It was emotional. I saw all the hard work he put in multiple days and late nights watching film as a paraprofessional assistant coach, which is not his full time job, but at the same time his full time job was in full swing (tax season). So in the last few seconds, I felt overcome with emotions because I know how much it meant to him.”

And when did Jerrod realize he was about to add another chapter to the family legacy so soon into the marriage?

“To be completely honest, I think when we knocked off the giant four time defending state champ Booneville in the semifinal game, everyone figured we were gonna go on to win it.” he said. “But I don’t ever get ahead of myself when it comes to postseason play, so it really hit me with about three minutes left in the state championship game.”

But, predictably, that wasn’t the end of things. You see the two first met around a decade ago at Pearl River Community College during the days when each was a standout athlete, Anna Grace in softball of course and soccer, and Jerrod on the hardwood.

“Once I got past the emotions of them winning state in basketball, I joked about how I still have one more than him because we are the most competitive couple you would ever meet.” Anna Grace laughed and said. “You should come see us play pickleball together. We don’t praise each other near as much.”

However, starting Tuesday afternoon, the couple will reunite on the same side for another run at the third state title for the dynamic duo in less than a year and fourth in three years.

“Hopefully, it will be a special week,” Jerrod concluded. “Yes, I will be all hands on deck, whatever is needed from me will be given. My nerves will be worse than hers all week, and I will try not to talk softball with her 24/7, which I am guilty of doing at times. I know her, her staff, and the Lady Rebels will give it all they got!”