I wasn’t expecting the Miss-Lou’s sports story of the year to happen so early in 2012.

But unless something unforeseen happens later this year, I expect David King’s departure from Trinity Episcopal to Adams County Christian School to easily rank at the very top.

Had Stevan Ridley actually gotten some carries in the Super Bowl, that’s about the only thing that would have topped the story of King leaving the school he’s coached so well for 14 seasons.

King will assume the position of headmaster and head football coach at ACCS beginning June 1. He brings with him a resume that includes four state championships at his time at Trinity, and Rebel fans will no doubt expect him to turn ACCS into a perennial state championship contender.

But King brings more to the table than just championship-caliber coaching. King is the type of coach for which young people want to play. I can say that not because King told me so, but because literally every athlete at the school that plays for King has said as much.

Any time I interview a Trinity athlete whom King has coached, the question of what it’s like to play for King inevitably comes around. And while the answers are unique to each athlete, the gist of those answers is always the same: they love playing for King.

Former Trinity center Chase Patrick once referred to King as a “second father.” Senior Sammy Qadan told me King isn’t just a great coach, but also takes the time to get to know you as a player.

Ridley still keeps in touch with King, and current Cathedral High School head coach Ron Rushing coached under King before turning the Green Wave football program around the past two seasons.

Even though King was difficult on him during his playing career, his son, Kent King, said his dad is his hero. During Trinity football games this past season, Kent could usually be found on the sideline, cheering his father and former teammates on.

The impact King has had on local athletes cannot be underestimated. As much as King wins on the football field, he also wins the hearts of his players. As headmaster at ACCS, he will now have the chance to win the hearts of the school’s entire student body.

To say I’m shocked that the King-Trinity marriage is ending would be an under statement. If someone told me King would not be coaching at Trinity forever, I would have assumed he’d eventually get into coaching college football somewhere.

Still, ACCS is King’s alma mater, and for whatever reason, King felt like it was time to return home. How King adjusts to his new dual role as headmaster and head football coach will be interesting to follow.

The toughest adjustment for me personally is the following label; “ACCS head football coach David King.” It’s not something I ever would have imagined writing without having to write a correction the next day.

But it is a reality, and now that it’s happened, I’m just going to have to teach myself that King has a new school affiliation.

 

Michael Kerekes is the sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3632 or michael.kerekes@natchezdemocrat.com.