NATCHEZ — After eight years of coaching, Josh Loy is finally in the position he was shooting for.

Loy was announced Tuesday evening as the new head football coach and athletic director at Trinity Episcopal, following Ryan Porter’s resignation Saturday. Loy, who has spent the last two years as Natchez High’s quarterbacks coach, said he was excited and humbled by the opportunity.

“I broke into coaching as a 23-year-old graduate assistant (at Southeastern), and this has always been my goal,” Loy said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity, and I’m definitely humbled by the road I’ve taken to get here.”

Trinity also announced the hiring of former middle linebacker Kyle Ketchings as defensive coordinator for the Saints. The school is pursuing an additional coach to fill one more vacancy, but no announcement was made on that potential hire.

Trinity Headmaster Les Hegwood said both Loy and Ketchings stood out during the short interview process, which began immediately Saturday after Porter announced his resignation.

“What I saw are two very positive people who would work well together,” Hegwood said. “Both of them have plenty of knowledge with Xs and Os, and Kyle brings fresh youth, whereas Josh is going to be a Kyle 10 years from now.

“They both are the kind of people that look you in the eye, tell you the truth and give you a great feeling, and there’s not an amount you can attach to the kind of faith you get from that.”

Prior to coaching at NHS, Loy was an assistant coach and athletic director at Cathedral High School for several years. He also coached at Adams Country Christian School for one year and coached at Trinity several years when David King was head coach.

“The tradition of Trinity speaks for itself, with the championships and the great players that have come through here,” Loy said. “We’re going to be a different team. We’re not a state championship team right now, but obviously, that’s going to be the goal.”

After the school announced Loy as head coach, Loy said he had a chance to meet with his players and begin the process of getting to know them.

“I told them we’re going to do two things: We’re going to be accountable to ourselves, our teammates and the school; and we’re going to trust each other,” Loy said.

Ketchings said he’s glad to be back at the school he grew up playing for, and he feels like his knowledge of defenses when he was a linebacker made him qualified for the job.

“I used to sit down and develop defensive gameplans,” Ketchings said. “I’m a student of the game. I love football, and I’ve followed the recent trends, even after I stopped playing. I feel like my playing career has me set up for (coaching).”

Ketchings said he plans to stay on one year as he tries to enroll in law school.

“I’ve taken the LSAT and am applying to law school in the fall,” Ketchings said. “Hopefully I’ll get to live one dream for a year and go chase another one the next.”

Loy said there have been reports of some players not making summer workouts, and he said he plans to address that problem immediately.

“The issue of the kids not being there is issue No. 1 to address,” Loy said. “I have to get them there and get them to buy into what we need to do.”

Loy said he plans to immediately begin player evaluations, and each player has a clean slate.

“We have to evaluate as quickly as possible,” Loy said. “We’re definitely behind the 8-ball. I don’t think we’re in the shape we need to be in at this point in the summer, but we can only move forward. We’re going to work as hard as we can.”

Both Loy and Ketchings will serve in teaching capacities, and both positions are paid positions, Hegwood said. Hegwood also said that he doesn’t see Loy simple as an interim coach.

“I think Josh is a guy that can take us into the future,” Hegwood said. “The whole interim thing was just out there, a thought, a phase in our decision-making. I feel confident that Josh can do this, this year and for many years to come.”

Despite any negative chatter about Trinity athletics, Hegwood stressed the importance of staying positive and believing in the future of the program.

“People are afraid of the unknown,” Hegwood said. “Everywhere I’ve ever been, I’m going to throw some things in front of you that will make you uncomfortable in some ways and challenge you to be your better self.

“It’s going to cause a little fear, but if you trust me now, we can get where we want to get sooner than if you wait and get on board.”