SUMMIT —  They are raising the bar of excellence at Southwest Mississippi Community College. On Wednesday morning, SMCC president Dr. Steve Bishop enthusiastically introduced new head football coach Tucker Peavey to a large crowd gathered on the  second floor, Memorabilia Room of the Holmes Student Union Building.

     “I realized I had to do some soul-searching in the selection of a new head coach,” said Bishop, his red hair shining in the spotlight. “We wanted a man of integrity. As president, I don’t want to have to worry about a coach getting our program in trouble.

     “We want a coach who can help us get players who can help you win, both on and off the field,” Bishop noted. “We wanted a family man, a church-going man with high morals. We wanted the best person and the best fit for our school.”

     Bishop said the early resignation of former Southwest coach Charles Anthony granted the school additional time and opportunity to find the right coach. He said there were 35 official applicants for the job and numerous inquiries.

     “We got calls from everywhere,” said Bishop, naming off several senior colleges in the process. “We were looking for a coach to lead 55 players, plus assistant coaches, managers and athletic trainers.”

     A loud round of applause greeted Peavey as he approached the podium. He adjusted the band size on a new Southwest cap and pulled it down over his forehead before addressing the audience. A Lincoln County native who coached the Brookhaven Panthers for nine years, Peavey’s name is well know across the Magnolia State. He coached the Panthers to nine state playoff appearances, a state title in 2004 and a runners-up finishe in 2010.

     After 10 years in his hometown, Peavey departed Brookhaven for an assistant coaching job at Southern Miss when Ellis Johnson was hired last December. A year later, after coaching USM’s offensive line for one season, Peavey has a new challenge ahead of him.

     Southwest has been a bottom feeder in the rugged, talent-filled South Division of the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges. The Bears fought hard, usually played stout defense but fell short most of the time in a powerful league, recognized as the toughest in America.

     “First of all, I’m overwhelmed by the turnout,” said Peavey. “I want to thank Dr. Bishop and the board for the opportunity.”

     For Peavey, it’s opportunity to be closer to home. Most of his family reside in Brookhaven. Two brothers, Dr. Michael and Todd Peavey,  work in the medical and physical fitness field. His wife, the former Leah Ann Holtslander of Natchez, currently teaches chemistry at Petal High School.

     “The happiest I’ve ever been has to be coaching back in my home area,” said Peavey.

     He stressed the importance of academics and athletics to the attentive crowd that included several high school coaches. “My goal is to have players learn how to win in life. They have to win in the classroom and on the football field.

     “I heard somebody say once, ‘For something to be successful, it has to be powerful.'”

     Peavey said the true test of a player’s desire to succeed doesn’t come during the football season. “When they are lifting weights in February and doing condition work in June when it’s 105 degrees, determines how well the individual performs on the field.”

     Peavey will have four full-time assistant coaches on his staff and several volunteers. “Our coaches will care about players first as students and then as athletes.”

     Under the new MACJC recruiting guidelines, the state is wide open. In past years, each league member had a number of counties in a district that gave them first choice of the prospects. No longer are MACJC members  separated by districts.

 

     “You start recruiting at home,” said Peavey. “Nowadays, you have to show the young men something they like on campus. They want to know what the practice field  and the weight room look like. They want to see where their dorm room is located.”

     Peavey, 51, has many coaching connections across the Magnolia State, plus Louisiana and Alabama. He said,”Our priority is local players. They help build a strong base of community support.”

     Asked about his decision to apply for the Southwest job, Peavey said, “I believe in the strong commitment from the administration. It was a comfort feeling. We feel comfortable here.”

     Plans are under way to upgrade the Southwest athletic facilities. The old press box at Hurst Stadium was torn down at the conclusion of the season and a new, larger one will take its place.

     Peavey and his wife are both graduates of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Southwest’s archrival.  He smiled when asked about the irony of a Co-Lin grad coaching against his alma mater.

     For sure, it’s a new era at Southwest. Peavey and his new staff of assistant coaches will recruit this area with passion. Co-Lin, the 2012 MACJC state champion, can’t afford to relax and rest on its accomplishments.

     Football is a war and it all starts with recruiting the best players available.

 

     Contact Tom Goetz by Email: tgoetz@dailyleader.com