1998

WEEKOF ___ {~-2_2_~-~g~----

that's very important. I feel entirely new for U very honored to have this op- who was a standout U portunity and look forward to high school, junior cc the challenge of trying to main- at Delta State U tain a good program," Under- Joining Underwood o wood said. will be the recently hi. He added, "To be a head Mangum, former head coach is exciting and even more Collins High School, ~~ 1:! so at this level because I was a coach quarterbacks and I,; junior college product Oones backs, and Steve Kelly, _County) and I personally like PRC assistant, who's r1 b this level a whole lot. In com- ble for linebackers and ~ munity and junior colleges you teams. Tim Coats returru le~ have the best of both worlds. ECCC staff, but the forn C You still have the chance to fensive backs coach w. 0: watch high school games and if serve as defensive coord p your children are involved in Frederick Lyons also rehl a sports at that level, you have defensive line coach. Al cc the chance to watch them play, yet named assistant will tl\ and you can also attend senior charge of tight ends and college games. The JUCO level receivers. P is a great area to be involved in Although he believes ir ~ and is ore that will continue to ting his coaches "coach" a! r be strong. The junior college his former boss Willie c { league was here a long time be- Underwood, who desc1 fore I played in it and it will . be himself as a "hands-on co< 1 here a long time after I retire." will still know "what's Underwood said. on" in each area. Mississippi is regarded as "What I've got to learn, one of the best producers of though I've never been in t community/junior college foot- position, is to distribute resp ball talent, a role Underwood sibility, which was one of t feels that most of the state's biggest strengths of Co high school student-athletes Coats. He didn't intimidate probably do not realize. look over his assistants' --ho "I don't think our Missis- der every minute. If someth sippi kids know how lucky wasn't being done the ,,.. a} they are. We have athletes wanted, he would mee~ from Alabama, North Caro- them and talk about the lina, South Carolina and Flor- tion. I will be the sa.'Tie ida calling us every ·day asking and want my assistants to be for a chance to play junior col- sponsible for their res lege football here because it's areas and make sug_ not offered in those areas. Each about any other areas in ad year we have an average of 35 tion to carrying out our phil to 45 J.Jds not only in our five– d.isc-ic· but at all ~J:.e phy in all aspects of the e U~ood said. 11be m tootball tnat lS something ::o:lilnp n~ obnou.sl) special to me, and I hope our spea a l one tor the ~ high school athletes under- coach, ~ho turns 3t ~ stand and appreciate this · Coats res1gned at age o- situation," Underwood stated. "I think the 1 worlfd of C Coats. I have a ot o re;,pect As head coach, Underwood him and we have had a has asswned a different role cordial, trustful and loyal r than served as an assistant. tionship. He relied en me The former defensive coordina- relied en him. It has tor and special teams coach now great relationship that \,; e moves to the offensive side of had the last 14 years; he the ball where he will direct hir m::on ,. annri rhric:t

~Dream Come True" - ECCC's Underwood

Ever since he was a ninth @'ade foo~all player for Semi– na.] Hig School, Terry Un– ;uod mew he wanted a ca–

seasons ever recorded at East Central, as the Warriors went 10-1 in 1996 and 7-3 last fall. The '96 squad defeated Middle Georgia College 7-6 in the Huddle House Golden Isles Bowl Classic and finished the -ed .ifth in the na- ..I am very excited to have this opportunity. My wife, Car– rie, and our children, Levi, Cali and Trest, love Decatur, and the people here have been good to us. I really like East Central and the relationship I have with the administration, fac– ulty and staff. I don't think a lot of people know how fortu– nate we are here at East Cen– tral. It's a 'we' thing here; we

a head footba ll coach. fifteen years after serv– e role of an assistant,

:nde:-A"OOC. ~ '"-ish

tral Community Co~ m De– catur. Underwood succeeds Wi 11 ie ''Teeny'' Coats who announced his retirement following a suc– cessful coaching career