JAY — Major changes are expected for Jay High School’s Royal football team, with many new players on the field and a new head coach: Melvin Kersey.
‘I AM A JAY GUY’
Kersey might be new to a varsity-level head football coaching position, but he is not new to the school. The 1993 Jay graduate has taught civics and history there since 2005.
In addition, Kersey has almost 20 years’ experience as an assistant coach for other football programs in the region. He volunteered as an assistant coach for five seasons at Jay. He also served as an assistant coach for Navarre High School, Escambia Academy and W.S. Neal High School.
Also, before joining Jay High School in 2005, Kersey said he served as head coach for Carver Middle School’s junior varsity football team.
Like many football players before and after him, Kersey has fond memories of playing on the Royals’ offense and defense.
“I played middle linebacker and fullback here,” he said.
During his high school days, Kersey said serving as the school’s head football coach did cross his mind.
“I didn’t know if it was going to happen and I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen,” Kersey said. “Fortune worked itself out a little bit and things opened up.”
The head coach position became available after Kent Smith left to be Pace High School’s head coach.
“This is the dream job, I am a Jay guy,” he said. “I love this community; I have been here my entire life.”
‘WE ARE YOUNG’
With a new coach’s arrival and a void left by a graduating class consisting of talents like Victor Mishoe and Braden Cross, changes are expected for next season.
Most of the assistant coaching staff is expected to remain, with the addition of Rhett Rowell, who will serve as an offensive line coach.
“We are all buddies,” Kersey said. “We all know each other and we have each other’s back; it’s a good deal. We are all in it to better Jay High School.”
As for plays?
“We are trying to put in a brand new offense … and we are running a new defense, too,” Kersey said. “There is a lot of installation that is taking place and we are trying to get the kids up to speed on what we want; and it’s quite a bit different from what they were doing in the past.”
Some changes include adding more of a passing game to the offense. As for defense, Kersey expects the Royals to change from a 3-4 defense to a base 4-4.
Adapting to a new system may present one challenge for the team; another comes in the form of inexperience. While a few returning players are coming off season-ending injuries, many of the players are new to the football roster.
“We are young,” Kersey said. “We are going to have some younger guys step up, that is for sure, and we will probably be playing several ninth-graders … that is just where we are at,” he said.
Following spring training, Kersey is confident his team will come around to performing at a high level.
“They are excited, they want to do well, they want to have success and they are very coachable,” he said. “We just want them to buy into the Royal game plan, not their own game plan.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Changes expected under new Jay head football coach