There are only 15 head coaching jobs in men’s basketball for the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC). Beginning next year, one of those positions will be held by a Brookhaven High alum.

On Wednesday, Itawamba Community College in Fulton announced that longtime head coach Grant Pate would retire at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season. To replace him, the school also announced that BHS and Copiah-Lincoln CC alum Darrian Wilson would move up to head coach upon Pate’s retirement.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be the next men’s basketball coach at ICC,” said Wilson in a release by the school. “Being a college basketball coach is something I have dreamed of since I started coaching, I can’t think of a better place to get my first head coaching job than Itawamba Community College.”

It’s been a meteoric rise for Wilson, who is in his second season as an assistant coach for the Indians after finishing his playing career at Jackson State University.

Wilson was a member of the program at JSU for four years, redshirting when he first arrived on campus and then being voted a team captain for three straight seasons. In his final campaign, Wilson started 13 games and averaged 15.6 minutes per contest for the Tigers.

Prior to JSU, Wilson played two seasons for Copiah-Lincoln C.C under former head coach Kenny Bizot. As a sophomore, he started every game for a CLCC team that finished 19-6. He was also selected for the Co-Lin Hall of Fame during his career and was voted Mr. Co-Lin during his time in Wesson.

The son of BHS head girls’ basketball coach Preston Wilson and Betty Wilson-McSwain, Darrian Wilson played basketball, baseball and football during his high school career at Brookhaven High.

Itawamba is currently 15-2 on the season after finishing 21-5 last year.