The last time ShaRhonda Gipson was at Natchez High School people knew her as Coach Welch, but now she’s back with a new name and a new title.

Since serving as an assistant for the Lady Bulldogs from 2009-12, Gipson is back to take the program into her own hands as the team’s new head coach.

“It feels good not only to be back in Natchez, but I know the environment and have the ultimate dream of being a head girls basketball coach,” Gipson said. “There are still some faces that I see around that recognize me, but I’m the same person. I’m ready to take it head-on.”

Gipson returns to Natchez after serving as a physical education teacher at Chastain Middle School in Jackson for the past five years.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted tryouts for the upcoming season this past Thursday and Friday, and Gipson said there was a solid showing of around 14 girls. She said of those in attendance, there was a wide mix of classes.

“I see some potential,” Gipson said. “We did lose quite a few seniors, but we do have some returning. It will be a really young team because I do have some ninth and tenth graders.”

Gipson takes over with Natchez riding a stretch of recent success.

The Lady Bulldogs have won two state championships in recent years, taking the MHSAA Class 5A title in 2014 and 2015.

Natchez posted a record of 9-16 last season, winning the Region 6-5A tournament championship. It ultimately fell in the second round of the playoffs, yet Gipson said she isn’t worried about how next year will turn out.

“It is a rebuilding program, but you always want to look toward the future,” she said. “You want to make sure you do well this year, but you also want to make sure you have to something to build and grow on. I feel like it will work out to have the diversity.”

Gipson replaces Tim Richardson, who served just one year as head coach. Richardson missed the last five games of the season because of undisclosed health reasons.

During tryouts, Gipson said the thing she was most pleased with was the verbal connection between players.

“They are already communicating because a lot of them know each other,” she said. “There was a lot of motivation and working together as a team, and that’s always a plus.”

Gipson said in continuation with the team’s harmony, she plans to establish a sense of family with the Lady Bulldogs. Being a mother of a 2-year-old boy, she said it helps her coaching style.

“I play a mother role, and they are sisters. When we are at practice, that’s what they are and what they are going to be,” she said. “No one person can win the game. Everybody is going to have a role, and I will make sure everyone knows what that is.”

Gipson said her husband and son will remain at their home in Pearl, but she will commute when necessary. She said she has had much support with her decision to lead Natchez.

“I have a tight knit community of family,” Gipson said. “To make this decision, everybody had to get on board. We are going to make it work.”