A new chapter to the Rebel Football team is about to begin as Eric Collier takes the role as the new head football coach in replace of James Ray, who stepped down to take position as the new Chief Operating Officer/Athletics Director.
Collier previously was a Defense Coordinator at Biloxi High School last season. Before that he was a Director of Football Development at the University of South Alabama and a head coach at Theodore High. He had much success at Theodore where he coached for 10 years, winning 33 out of 38 games in his last three seasons. Collier is originally from Alabama, where he previously worked alongside current George County principal Chip Menton.
He decided to take on the position at George County because he felt he could make a good team.
“I feel like this is a place you can come in and build a team that can potentially make a run going to state championship,” Collier said. “I think they have really good coaches here. We just have to get everybody on the same page, going in the same direction, got to work with the kids, figure out what the kids can do, identify what we need to do offensively and defensively and go from there,”
He is most excited to meet the players and get to work with them on the field.
“I want to be able to make a difference in their life and I feel like I can,” Collier said.
Collier is not the only person who believes in the difference he can make, Menton who worked alongside him at Theodore has high hopes after seeing his many successes as a coach.
“Well, I know that he will work hard and help us get our program to the next level, especially since I do know him and have been around him. I know how he will treat our kids and I think we will have a great program and he’s going to do everything he can to make our program the best, and probably more importantly he will be a mentor to our football players,” Menton said, “There’s one thing I told the other day when he met with the players for the first time was his success that he’s had through the years, and not only that but he’s spent a year at South Alabama on the college level and so he has connections to colleges that could help our kids. So I think that you know, the past success he will hopefully he will be able to bring here and help our kids have that same success and get the chance to go to that next level and play,” Menton said.
Collier’s goals do not just end on the field though. He is excited to work with the community in multiple ways.
“I’m looking forward to being in this community, I’m looking forward to working with the different churches, I’m looking forward to spending time with our youth and getting everybody in this town put in the same direction and getting behind us on Friday nights,” Collier said.
