It’s that time of year. Like the annual migration of some animalspecies, coaches are on the move. There have been a few shakeupsand several more are on the horizon.

At Bogue Chitto, head football coach Carl Cole is packing hisbags after four years at the helm. He has accepted an assistanthead coaching position at Johnson High School in Gainesville, Ga.It is located about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and has anenrollment of 1400 students.

Cole will be part of a 7-man varsity football staff, headed byFlorida native Blair Armstrong. At Bogue Chitto Cole directed theBobcats to best-ever campaign, an 11-2 record and the second roundof the Class 1A state playoffs.

“Like I told the folks here at Bogue Chitto, there’s nowhereelse I would rather be than right here in Mississipp,” said Cole.But the Lord gave me this opportunity and I just can’t walk awayfrom it.”

Cole said his salary will increase 40 percent. His wife, Sarah,teaches in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Bogue Chitto. Shehas been promised a seventh grade teaching position in the schoolsystem and her salary also will make a large jump.

“Bogue Chitto has become home to us,” said Coach Cole. “Mywife’s family is from Hazlehurst and my parents live in AmiteCounty, in Gloster.”

Cole had a 4-year record of 25-22 at Bogue Chitto. Led by atalented senior class, the Bobcats made a name for themselves onthe gridiron.

“I’m confident that football at Bogue Chitto and Lincoln Countyhas made great strides in my four years here,” said Cole. “LoydStar already was established but Enterprise has improvedtremendously.

“We have a good bunch of young players coming back even thoughwe lose a bunch of seniors.”

Bogue Chitto principal Bobby Allen said Cole would be missed. “Ihate to lose Coach Cole. He has done an outstanding job oforganizing our program. He gets along well with the kids. He did agood job teaching and coaching.”

Allen said he had five strong applicants for the vacancy.

Hopefully, the final choice will continue improving Bogue Chittofootball.

West Lincoln lost one coach and hired another. Willie Brumfieldhas been named the fourth head football coach in four years at WestLincoln. He replaces Roe Burns who elected to retire in Januaryafter one season at the helm.

West Lincoln has only had a football program for four years butthe school elected to plunge directly into varsity competition fromthe start. Going winless in 11 games last season was difficult toaccept.

Brumfield, 33, is a Walthall County native and a 1986 graduateof Salem. He is a University of Southern Mississippi alumnus with adegree is sports administration.

For the past three seasons, he has been defensive coordinator atPetal High School. He also coached one year at Purvis. In 1998,Brumfield worked on the football staff at Belhaven College, servingas special teams coordinator for head coach Norman Joseph.

“I’m extremely excited about coming to West Lincoln,” saidBrumfield. “It’s a great community with a great group of studentsand teachers.”

Brumfield said he plans to make a long-term commitment. “I wantto build the program. We want to be competitive and have a programwe can be proud of.”

Brumfield is married to the former Patty Sullivan of BaySprings. He plans to work West Lincoln through spring practice andprepare them for the Loyd Star jamboree.

Departing West Lincoln is head basketball coach Andy Smithie whocoached the Bears and Lady Bears for one season. Smithie said hewants to spend more time with his family. He is married to theformer Pamela King of Brookhaven who is a dentist in McComb. Theyhave three young children, a daughter, Taylor is 5 years old; andtwo sons, Will is 2 and Brian is 1.

“I enjoyed coaching at West Lincoln,” said Smithie. “The kidswere great but my family and I have decided to go a differentdirection.”

West Lincoln’s teams enjoyed a successful campaign. The LadyBears were 19-7. The Bears completed a major rebuilding season14-12.

West Lincoln principal Jason Case once scored 50 points in the1982 state tournament championship game when the Bears wonback-to-back titles under his father, Jack Case. The younger Casesaid he regretted seeing Smithie resign.

“I’m disappointed to see Coach Smithie leave. I thought he didan excellent job coaching and he did an outstanding job in theclass room. He is an excellent person to have on our staff.”

Case coached West Lincoln for 10 years before moving up toprincipal last year. It’s a great coaching opportunity for theright person or persons. Applicants must be certified to teacheither science or social studies.

Co-Lin All-Stars: Representing Copiah-Lincoln in tonight’s MACJCAll-Star Basketball Games at Philadelphia’s Choctaw Central HighSchool are Mindy Livaudais and Christy Brown in the women’s gameand B.J. Black in the men’s game. Tipoff is 6 p.m. for the womenand 8 p.m. for the men.