NATCHEZ — Trinity Episcopal has a new head football coach.

Graham Roberts was announced head man Friday night in front of a strong contingent of Saints supporters at the annual Trinity Mayfair.

Roberts comes to Trinity after spending the last few seasons away from the coaching ranks. His most recent coaching post came approximately four years ago as offensive coordinator at Vidalia High School.

“I’m very excited,” Roberts said. “I grew up around here, and I know the tradition Trinity has. And that was one of the big draws to this job. They’ve always had great programs, and that’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Trinity Episcopal Interim Head of School Paul Anderson said the school received a number of applications for the position, but Roberts stood out for his desire to help mold the players into strong student-athletes and better individuals.

“We want our kids to be exposed to excellent role models of life, accomplishments academically as well as the sports field,” Anderson said. “The more we went through, the more important it became to us what the message the coach is going to convey to the kids on the field, what his expectations are and his general enthusiasm for them and for the sport.”

Roberts is replacing former coach Zach Rogel, who left the school to take the same position at Delta Charter School. Anderson said Rogel notified the school in late March of a potential move, initiating the search for a replacement.

“(Coach) Rogel had expressed an interest earlier this year that for family reasons and financial reasons, he needed to look at where his career was going to bring him,” Anderson said. “He indicated that there was a likelihood that he was going to be to see what the world had to offer. At the same time, we decided that we need to do the same.”

Roberts said he plans on instilling an aggressive-style of football.

“I’ve got evaluate what we (have coming back),” Roberts said. “I know from what I read and heard about, I know they’ve had a lot of speed here. I know they’ve always had good athletes.”

Anderson said now is the appropriate time for the program to establish a fresh direction as it eyes the 2016 campaign.

“I’m excited because I’m bringing on a person I like as a human being,” Anderson said. “I think everybody will resonate with him as a human being, and (someone) who is a quality person that is going to care about our kids.

“Do we want to win? Who doesn’t? But we’re trying to prepare our kids for more than just winning high school. We want them winning in life and winning in college.”