Wayne Rogers loves coaching. That’s the main reason he came outof retirement to accept the position of athletic director and headfootball coach at Enterprise.

Rogers, 52, retired in June after four years as principal atLoyd Star. He has been in the education field for 32 years.

“I’m excited and looking forward to it,” said Rogers. “We havehad some good summer workouts,” at Enterprise.

Rogers replaces Roe Burns, a longtime Lincoln County coach whostepped down after two years as head coach and AD at Enterprise.Burns, 60, cited health reasons for his retirement. He had coachedfootball 20 years at Loyd Star before leaving that position in1999.

Since the retirement of Burns at Enterprise, assistant coachCass Brister has been in charge of the program. He will remain onstaff as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

“I have been impressed with the work ethic of these kids,” saidRogers. “My team has speed and quickness but we won’t be real big.We are fairly young, too.”

Enterprise principal Shannon Eubanks said he was happy to havean experienced coach and administrator like Rogers on his staff.”Coach Rogers is a good fit for us, not only now but in the future.He has experience as an athletic director and a coach.

“I have several young coaches on our staff,” Eubanks added. “Hewill be a good leader for us and he has roots in Lincoln County. Iknow he will do a good job preparing our young coaches for headjobs.”

Asked about his coaching philosophy, Rogers said, “Our main goalis to stay very positive. Football is not an easy sport and ittakes a special person to play the game. You knock people down onevery play.

“Football teaches you so much about life,” he continued. “Sportsin general prepare students for life.”

Rogers grew up in Jasper County and graduated from Bay SpringsHigh School. He was an offensive lineman and played two years atJones County Junior College for Sim Cooley before transferring toDelta State University where he played for Robert McGraw and DonDenning.

He gradudated from Delta State in 1979 with a degree in physicaleducation. He later obtained a Masters Degree in Administratioinfrom William Carey University in Hatttiesburg.

A defensive coordinator for 21 years, Rogers began coaching atSt. Martin on the Gulf Coast. He spent 5 years coaching at McLaurinbefore entering administration on a full-time basis.

.

While at Loyd Star, Rogers coached the defensive unit 1season.

Enterprise was promoted to Class 2A last season due to a growingstudent enrollment. The Fighting Yellow Jackets competed inDivision 6-2A where they went winless in 6 games. They were 2-8overall.

Rogers said Division 6-2A is extremely strong, featuring St.Andrew’s, Wesson, Hinds AHS, Loyd Star, McLaurin and Madison St.Joseph.

“We are in a tough region,” said Rogers. “Everybody playseverybody good. There are just a handful of plays that separatewins from losses.

“We want to win games we are supposed to win. Then against toughteams, we want to be within striking distance in the fourthquarter.”

Rogers said he has challenged his players to be successful onthe gridiron. “I told them, ‘Before you can have something you’venever had, first you have to do something you’ve never done.'”

Joining Rogers on the football staff are newcomers Will Pepperand Jared Britt. Pepper will help Rogers coach the offensive anddefensive lines while Britt works with running backs, receivers anddefensive backs. Britt (Loyd Star) and Pepper (West Lincoln) areboth graduates of Lincoln County schools.

Rogers has scheduled a meeting for prospective varsity andjunior high football players and their parents next Thursday, July24, at the Enterprise cafeteria. The 6:30 meeting will revieweligibility requirements and a schedule for physicalexaminations.

Enterprise begins preseason practice Aug. 4. The Jackets hostWest Lincoln Aug. 28, for their first game.

Rogers and his wife, Lisa, have 3 children. Jordan, a WilliamCarey graduate, recently was named assistant baseball coach atSoutheastern Louisiana University. Lindsay is a senior at Ole Misspursuing a career in pharmacy. Jarred is a sophomore baseballplayer at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.