After losing its basketball coach, most of the recent concern over McComb High School athletics has turned to another coach, Malcolm Jones, who leads the Tigers’ football program and is the school’s athletic director.
At least two meetings about him have been held. The first was at the Martin Luther King Center on April 21, organized by Jones’ opponents. Three days later, Jones’ supporters met at Community of Believers Cultural Fellowship Church to focus on his accomplishments.
The resounding theme coming from both groups seems to be, what is McComb looking for in a coach and administrator?
Pastor Gregory Partman of Community of Believers Cultural Fellowship church led the meeting supporting Jones. He presented a list of Jones’ accomplishments during his 17 years as a coach and educator.
The most impressive figures deal with the number of athletes who have received scholarship under Jones’ leadership. Since he took over as head coach in 2009, 38 football players earned full athletic scholarships, five signed academic scholarships and three athletic trainers received scholarships.
Jones also introduced the athletic program to Hudl, pronounced “huddle,” a program that allows athletes to send their highlight videos to coaches all over the country to solicit scholarship offers.
Prior to Jones’ leadership, the athletic budget was in the red, but the district was able to fully fund spring sports this year. At the meeting backing Jones, Partman said the athletic department made more than $147,000 from admissions at athletic events.
Selectman at large Tommy McKenzie was at the pro-Jones meeting to listen to what everyone had to say.
At the meeting, Teddy Cotton talked about the importance of having a coach who has a similar background to the athletes and is able to keep them on the right path.
Several current and former football players attended the meeting supporting Jones. Head track coach and football offensive coordinator Jeffery Gibson along with his wife, head softball coach Deysha Gibson, were there. Jeffery Gibson announced he would be coaching at McComb next year, contrary to rumors. Defensive coordinator Dedrick Johnson was also at the meeting in support of Jones.
Jones’ ability to get along with others was a big part of the discussion at the Martin Luther King Center meeting, which McComb selectmen Ronnie Brock and Donovan Hill and school board vice president Lynn Gilmore attended.
Shaunta McDowell acted as a spokesperson of the group.
Jones’ detractors say the coach has an aggressive attitude with players and colleagues.
Sabrina Williams, the mother of girls basketball player and track athlete Chardonay Williams, cited an example of Jones’ inability to get along with people by bringing up the termination of former girls basketball coach Angelia Johnson, who she said was also a good math teacher. Johnson resigned as a teacher after being fired as the coach and is now the head coach at Terry High School.
But perhaps the one issue that’s brought all of this to a head is the recent resignation of Hilton Harrell, McComb’s successful and popular head boys basketball coach who is leaving after 23 seasons to become the head coach and athletic director at rival South Pike.
McComb school officials, while unhappy to see Harrell go, said they can’t just give him the AD’s position — Jones’ job.
The criticism of Jones is nothing new, but his opponents have become much more vocal since Harrell’s resignation.
Citizens looking for change have a meeting scheduled at the Martin Luther King Center at 7 p.m. May 5 and they plan to attend the next school board meeting on May 10.
