WESSON — Football players report to Frank Pitts Field House onthe Copiah-Lincoln Community College campus in less than a month.New Co-Lin head football coach Glenn Davis and his staff alreadyare making preparations for the big day.

Davis has assembled almost an entire new staff since he washired last January. They include Shelton Gandy, running backs andquarterbacks coach; Brett Shufelt, defensive coordinator; CalvinGreen, defensive backs; Rob Channell, receivers; and Chris Tolbert,defensive line.

“I’m tickled to death with my assistant coaches,” said Davis whowill coach the offensive line. “Each one has a strength to help ourprogram be successful. None of them mind working hard.

“They all fit me and that’s important,” Davis continued. “Theyare loyal and eager.”

Green, 37, is the lone holdover from the previous coaching staffwhich was headed by David Poinsett for two years. Green has beencoaching at Co-Lin for 11 years.

A Monticello native, Green played on Co-Lin’s 1985 statechampionship squad.

“We want the program to get back to that championship level,”said Green. “Things are looking good for our secondary. We havesome good, young talent.”

Green said he was looking forward to working with Davis. “Hebrings a lot of energy to the team. We worked together the lasttime he was here.”

Davis, 44, served as Co-Lin’s offensive coordinator from 1995-96on head coach Phil Broome’s staff. He spent the last 7 yearsworking as running backs coach at Mississippi State University.

Gandy, 38, was a standout running back at the University ofSouthern Mississippi from 1984-88. A Waynesboro native, he coachedrunning backs at USM from 2000-02. He also coached at EastMississippi Community College for 5 years, Miles College for 2years and Mississippi College for 1 year.

“I’m excited to be a Co-Lin,” said Gandy. “It’s a new situationfor me. When I coached at East Mississippi, I always admiredCo-Lin. I’m happy to be working with Coach Davis and be part of theCo-Lin family.”

Gandy is married to the former Wanda Winding of Liberty and theyhave three children: Jawanna, age 20, Shelton, 13, and Brea, 6.

Asked about prospects at quarterback and running back, Gandysaid, “I see a lot of potential but there are a lot of unknowns,too. We have to get these freshmen on the practice field and seewhat they can do.”

Shufelt, 34, a native of Hillsboro, N.M., is a graduate ofWestern New Mexico University. He earned a Master’s Degree ineducational administration and a Ph.D. in educational leadershipfrom Mississippi State University.

Shufelt’s previous coaching experience includes graduateassistant positions at Mississippi State University (1995-1997) andNew Mexico State University (1994-1995). He served as defensivecoordinator/linebacker coach at Western New Mexico University from1992-1994. Shufelt has also held coaching positions at Silver City(NM) High School, Amphitheater (AZ) High School, and Sabino (AZ)High School.

“I learned a lot of football from Joe Lee Dunn at MississippiState and Bill Clay at Oklahoma State,” said Shufelt. “What we tryto do is be very aggressive with our defense.

“It’s a speed-based defense and people enjoy it,” Shufeltcontinued. “The kids like to play it, too. It’s fun. We like kidswho will hit people.”

Shufelt said he was encouraged by Co-Lin’s showing on defenseduring spring drills. “We had a great spring. We have some playerswho can really contribute.”

Tolbert, 30, is listed as a volunteer coach. He was born atKeesler Naval Base in Biloxi. He grew up in Virginia Beach, Va. Hecoaches at Jamestown (Va.) High School.

He is employed by the Juvenile Rehabiliation Center inBrookhaven.

“I have a lot of roots down here,” said Tolbert. “I have familyin Forest and Gulf Shores (Ala.).”

Tolbert said Shufelt encouraged him to move farther South whenhe was hired at Co-Lin. “I enjoy working with these guys.”

Channell, 32, is a Wesson native who coached football on thehigh school level at Brookhaven and Wesson before joining theCo-Lin faculty last January as a biology instructor. He is teachinganatomy and physiology, biology and nutrition.

A Southern Miss grad, Channell was a standout pole vaulter atUSM. He is listed as a volunteer coach at Co-Lin.

“I enjoy working with Coach Davis,” said Channell. “We had acouple of receivers who looked pretty good in the spring. There arestill some areas that need a lot of work.”

Co-Lin’s players report Aug. 6 for physical exams. TheWolfpack’s first game is Sept. 2, at Holmes Community College inGoodman.