By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
Dec. 20, 2002
Lamar School defensive coordinator Doyle Bryan is stepping up to become a head coach. Bryan accepted the head football position at perennial academy state power Winston Academy..
Bryan has been at Lamar for the past two seasons. He helped Raider head coach Mac Barnes turn around the Lamar program. The Raiders were 3-9 in 2001 but finished 7-5 and won the MSPA AAA Division II South title this past season.
Bryan will take over for Steve Kelly who leaves Winston after two seasons. Winston has had one of the most successful football programs in the MPSA having claimed five state titles. This includes AA title in 2000.
Rogers is now the offensive coordinator at Meridian High School after a couple of seasons as a college assistant coach. Hudspeth is now the head coach at the University of North Alabama.
Barnes said he was elated to see one of his assistants move up to a head job.
Bryan was also the Raiders' head golf coach and his crowning achievement was the 2001 MPSA Overall State Championship. Lamar repeated as AA champions last May.
Bryan started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Manchester Academy in Yazoo City in 1986. He then went to Pillow Academy in Greenwood in 1997 and then Jackson Prep in 1998.
Bryan will join a MPSA league that is regarded as the toughest in Class A. Heidelberg won the 2002 championship last month.
As for Lamar, Barnes says because of the growth of the Raider program, he may add more than one coach.
As for golf, Barnes said he wasn't sure at this time.