MONTICELLO — The Lawrence County Cougars battled setbacks onand off the football field during the 2003 season. Head coach TrentHammond and his assistant coaches helped the Cougars make itthrough a tough Region 6-4A schedule to advance to the third roundof the 4A state football playoffs, exceeding expectations.

For his accomplishments, Hammond has been named The DAILYLEADER’S Area Football Coach of the Year. In three years at theLawrence County helm, Hammond’s career worksheet is 23 wins and 12losses. His Cougars were 10-3 this year after being picked tofinish fifth in the division race.

“It was a great year,” smiled Hammond. “We set the standard.This has been a great year at Lawrence County. It was the firsttime to be back in the playoffs in three years.”

Hammond called his Cougars overachievers.

Hammond and his football team overcame hardships on and off thefootball field. Senior runningack Cedric Oatis sustained a serioushead injury following a preseason practice and did not know he wasbadly hurt until a day later. Oatis suffered a stroke due to aruptured artery and spent time in the hospital. He returned to thesidelines to support his teammates late in the season.

“We overcame a lot,” stated Hammond.

Hammond praised his staff of assistant coaches for their hardwork and dedication.

“I’ve got the greatest assistant coaches anywhere,” praisedHammond. “They are dedicated to our kids. They’re 100 percentdedicated.”

Hammond’s assistant coaches include Craig Davis, Mike Davis,Chris Clark, Eric Booth, Cory Keys and Ron Fortenberry.

“They got a lot out of our kids,” continued Hammond. “The headcoach is only as good as his assistants.” It was a quote Hammondrepeated from retired McComb head coach Lee Bramlett.

Hammond spent one year at McComb as an assistant when the Tigerswon the state championship in 2000, before returning to LawrenceCounty three years ago. He was an assistant to LCHS head coachDanny Adams in 1999 when the Cougars went 14-0, winning the statetitle.

Before McComb, Hammond served as an assistant coach for fouryears at Lawrence.

One of the key factors to the Cougars’ success was teamchemistry. “They believed in each other,” explained Hammond. “Wewere fortunate to coach them.”

Lawrence County entered the South State playoffs as the No. 3seed and had to play on the road. The Cougars visited Laurel andreturned to Monticello with a big 34-6 victory in the first-roundgame.

“It was pretty good, the win at Laurel,” said Hammond. “We wereable to go over there and play well.”

Lawrence County hosted the following Friday and eliminatedNortheast Lauderdale 27-14. West Jones was next and handed LawrenceCounty a tough 37-15 loss, eliminating them from the playoffs. WestJones fell to Wayne County in the 4A South State championshipgame.

“I thank the Lord for the opportunity to coach these kids,”added Hammond. He is a graduate of Durant High and Delta StateUniversity.

Hammond and his wife Kim have two children. Maddie, age 5, andHayes, age 2.

In the classroom, Hammond teaches Mississippi studies,government and economics.