Choctaw turns to Coats

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
July 19, 2003
Longtime coaching veteran Willie "Tennie" Coats has been chosen to lead the Choctaw Central football program for the 2003 season.
Coats was an assistant to Tommy McCool for the 2002 season. McCool, the second-winningest football coach at CCHS with a 63-43 mark from 1993-2002, was not rehired after the Warriors finished 3-7 last fall.
Hodges also wasn't rehired for 2003-04.
Coats is a member of the University of Southern Mississippi's Athletic Hall of Fame. He has been head coach at Clara, Seminary, Lumberton, East Central Community College (as an assistant), Decatur, Quitman, Delta State University (as an assistant), Hattiesburg, Pearl River Community College, East Central, Newton County Academy, and Choctaw Central (as an assistant). He also had a one-year stint with the semipro Mississippi Pride as an assistant.
Fall drills officially begin on Aug. 4.
Coats will also be the golf coach at CCHS.