Sun Herald Coach of the Year: Scott Sisson builds a winner at Resurrection

Resurrection Catholic's football tradition didn't amount to much just a few years ago.

Scott Sisson has been on the RCS staff for the last five years, serving as the head coach the last three seasons.

During that time, RCS has grown to become the best Class 1A program in the southern half of the state, and by a wide margin.

That's why Sisson is the Sun Herald Coach of the Year for 2015.

Sisson directed the Eagles to a 13-1 campaign that ended in a 25-9 loss to an undefeated Simmons team in the Class 1A state title game in Oxford on Dec. 4.

"We knew we were starting develop somewhat of a program," Sisson said. "This year we kind of proved it could be done. We've got a lot to build off."

RCS has gone a combined 23-3 over the last two years and 28-9 in Sisson's three years as head coach.

Sisson praises his dedicated players and an experienced coaching staff for helping him build a program at a school that had little reputation as a football program prior to its recent success. The program was dormant from 1987-2009.

Many of the seniors on this year's team started playing football at RCS as seventh and eighth graders and experienced plenty of drubbings.

"To see them stick with the coaches and perform the way they did their senior year, that had to be the icing on the cake," Sisson said.

Sisson previously served as head coach at Pascagoula and East Central and served as an assistant at Moss Point.

Sisson retired from Mississippi Public Schools in 2011 and was prepared to walk away from coaching, but decided to take the offer to coach at RCS.

When Sisson arrived at RCS, he brought the experience of knowing what it takes to win at the highest levels of high school football in Mississippi.

There was some concern that the team would take a step back this season with the graduation of quarterback Larry Sisson, Scott's son, and his two top receivers, Troy Cobb and Darius Kennedy.

Instead, the RCS staff made adjustments and the Eagles stepped it up even more on defense. RCS allowed only 65 points all year and the offense bowled over the competition for much of the season with a talented group of running backs.

Off the field, Sisson helped build a family in the program.

"The demeanor with the kids was just incredible," Sisson said. "It was like a big family out there. There was never anything negative. All you heard was positive out of the weight room."

After he was prepared to leaved the coaching profession in 2011, Sisson has found a second wind in his coaching career at RCS.

"As long as they'll have me, I'm glad to stay," Sisson said. "This is as fun as it was when I first started at Moss Point."

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Sun Herald Coach of the Year: Scott Sisson builds a winner at Resurrection ."