By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — For the second time this century, the Biloxi football team has its fourth new head coach in the span of a decade

New Indian Chief Eric Collier takes over the team after spending the past two seasons as BHS defensive coordinator under then head coach Jamey Dubose. Collier was elevated earlier this year to the top spot when Dubose left for a similar job in Georgia.

Collier came across the Alabama state line for his first job in Mississippi at the beginning of the 2024 season with Collier, after a long coaching career in the Alabama prep circles. 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 (Ala.) 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.

“I think we’ll play at a higher level this year,” Collier said, in a recent interview. “We’ll be more intense and be more aggressive on defense.”

Collier, who also served four seasons at Alma Braynt High as head coach before moving to Theodore, has helped lead the Indians to back-to-back berths in the Class 7A South State playoffs the past two seasons. However, Biloxi has lost nine straight playoff games over the past 15 years since last earning a postseason win in 2011.

“We don’t worry about the past, there’s nothing we can do about that,” Collier added. “We have to worry about today, and about getting better every day. You have to worry about what you can control in your life today.”

Biloxi does have a key player back in a key position this season, as quarterback Jordan Ramsey returns for his senior season. Last year, Ramsey accounted for almost 2,000 yards of total offense including 16 total touchdowns, with 1,400 passing yards and over 400 rushing yards.

“If you’re gonna win and win big you have to have a top trigger man,” Collier said. “And Jordan is ours.”

Biloxi did lose its two two leading rushers from last season, in Jaylan Johnson, who graduated, and Jo Jo Thomas, who transferred to Gulfport after topping BHS with almost 800 yards on the ground.

But, the Indians do have both Dylan Dixson and Marquez Metcalfe back at running back after each saw considerable action last season.

Also, Ian Harlan transferred in from Ocean Springs where he saw time both in the backfield and in the slot for the Greyhounds over the past two seasons. The Indians also got Liam Richards from St. Patrick for the offensive backfield as well.

And, Davie Griffin returns at wide out after leading BHS in reception yardage last year.

“You’ve got to be able to run the football and play solid defense to win games.’ Collier added.

Defensively, the Indians have 6-foot-2, 260-pound lineman Amare Rogers back in the trenches. Rogers has offers from Southern Miss as well  from Samford, Alcorn State and Jackson State after he recorded eight tackles for loss last year.

Powerful nose guard Cam Clark joins him up front.

At linebacker, Jayden Ramsay returns after he made some key stops last year as does Jashaun Bass, who will lead the way from both his linebacker spot and in the secondary at times.

Edgar Martinez has been consistent as the placekicker over the past two years.

Despite making the state playoffs last year, Biloxi went just 3-8. They were 8-14 in two losing seasons under Dubose’s direction. The Indians open the new season against Holmes County Central on Fri., Aug. 28th.

“We’ve got to win the games we’re supposed to win and then also sneak up on a couple that we aren’t supposed to beat also,” Collier concluded.