Gulf Coast announces change with football program
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College announced Tuesday that it has decided to “part ways” with head football coach Chad Huff.
“I am very appreciative of the effort Chad has put into leading the Gulf Coast football program,” new athletic director Steven Campbell Jr. said in a release.
A Hurley native and former East Central High football star, Huff was 26-14 over four seasons in charge of the Bulldogs. He spent the previous 10 years as offensive coordinator under Campbell’s father, Steve.
The Bulldogs just completed a 5-4 season, finishing with a rare loss to rival Pearl River Community College and a defeat in the finale to No. 8 Jones County Junior College. The late losses eliminated MGCCC from the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Bulldogs’ streak of 10 straight post-seasons was the longest active streak in the MACJC.
Huff was 16-5 in his first two seasons at Gulf Coast, which included a run to the MACJC championship game in 2015.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, several players took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the move.
“This Is So Dumb This Man Put His All In To Gulf Coast,” lineman Treyvion Shannon tweeted.
This Is So Dumb This Man Put His All In To Gulf Coast https://t.co/7BozlMxsxG
— Trey (@T_Shannon57) October 31, 2017
“We Had a team Full of freshman and you wanna blame it on Coach....Cmon bruh,” said linebacker Deontae Haynes.
We Had a team Full of freshman and you wanna blame it on Coach....Cmon bruh
— Deontae (@That_Man_Bama) October 31, 2017
“Got to be one of the stupidest decisions ever on Gulf Coast behalf,” cornerback Aretavious Hendix said.
Got to be one of the stupidest decisions ever on Gulf Coast behalf https://t.co/LtCAJWjfLf
— Tabow Hendrix (@Tabow23) October 31, 2017
Itawamba Community College coach Sean Cannon also took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the change. Cannon and Huff are longtime friends who were roommates at Delta State during their playing days.
“(Huff) is one of the best men I know,” Cannon said. “Glad to call him my friend. A man of character and always will be. He always did it for his kids.”
@_coachhuff is one of the best men I know. Glad to call him my friend. A man of character and always will be. He always did it for his kids. https://t.co/hO8GYvNHkU
— Sean Cannon (@coachcannon97) October 31, 2017
A search will begin immediately for Huff’s replacement. A team spokesman said the next coach will make final decisions on the rest of the staff.
Patrick Ochs: 228-896-2321, @PatrickOchs
This story was originally published October 31, 2017 at 8:18 AM with the headline "Gulf Coast announces change with football program."