Roberts departs Choctaw County for Gulfport job

Choctaw County is in the market for a new head football coach.

Multiple sources told The Starkville

Daily News on Monday that head coach

Jeff Roberts has stepped down from his post as the school's Director of Athletics and football coach to pursue the defensive coordinator position at Gulfport High School.

That hire is pending board approval by the

Gulfport School District, but Roberts told his team on Monday about his intentions.

That ends a very productive four-year stint for Roberts in his first years as a head coach. He came to the Chargers after helping Water Valley to a state championship in 2018 as the team's defensive coordinator. In year one, he led Choctaw County to an 11-4 mark which was the most wins since Ackerman and Weir consolidated. His Chargers won Class 3A, Region 4 and made it to the North State championship.

In four seasons at the helm, Roberts was 32-18 with a 14-2 mark in district games having won two district titles and in two different classifications. He's also helped develop several players to the next level like Quez Mcneal who went from an All-state career at Copiah Lincoln Community College to Southern Miss this year. Four more outgoing seniors are going off to college to play as Antonio Kennedy, Calvin Roberts, Quay Lane and Luke Beard all signed to play college football.

While Choctaw County is now having to fill two huge positions, the school has plenty to sell. Beyond the fact that the program has been a success as Chargers and before as both communities in Weir and Ackerman, there's also a huge commitment to upgrading the facilities.

The longtime location of the football stadium at Dale Davidson Field is in its final years as construction on a brand new facility at Tom Glasgow Park is underway.