MONTICELLO – David Parker plans to make some changes and keep other things the same in his first season as Lawrence County’s head football coach. Parker was hired in April and replaced Mike Davis who stepped down after 17 years at LCHS, the last eight as head coach.

     Parker, 39, comes to LCHS from Grenada where he served one year as defensive coordinator. He is a Morton native who was head coach at his alma mater for four years, 2005-08.

     Parker’s new team debuts Aug. 17, at Hazlehurst. The Cougars will visit Brookhaven Aug. 23, for a Thursday night special.

     One of the changes is a new logo for the LCHS helmet. It will change from a LC emblem to a paw, similar to the Clemson logo.

     There are some wholesale changes in the LCHS coaching staff. Offensive line coach Jesse Anderson is the lone holdover. Anderson is a LCHS grad.

     New to the staff are John Davis, offensive coordinator; Jimmy Coley, defensive coordinator and David Barber, linebackers/wide receivers.

     Parker said he prefers running an option offense, similar to the Flexbone, which is employed by Georgia Tech. “I will call the offense until our offensive coordinator is comfortable with it.”

     His new OC comes to Monticello from West Point. Former defensive coordinator Jay Livingston went to Bassfield.

     Parker said he has been impressed by the Cougars’ offseason work ethic this summer. “There is nothing that I have asked them to do, that they haven’t responded well. Their work ethic is as good as any team I have been associated with.”

     The Cougars finished 4-7 last season and advanced to the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs, losing to Laurel.

     Preseason practice begins July 30. The coaches and players will have 17 days to prepare for Hazlehurst, the Class 3A state runner-up in 2011.

     “I think we have one of the toughest schedules in the state,” said Parker.  Among the larger classification opponents are Class 6A Vicksburg and Class 5A Brookhaven.

     “Our goal is to win a district (Region 7-4A) championship,” said Parker. Tylertown, Purvis and North Pike are favorites in the region race. The Cougars were No. 4 seeds last year.