Mike Taylor leaves HA

MAGEE - Former West Jones head football coach Mike Taylor has accepted the head football coaching position at Simpson Academy.

Taylor coached the Heidelberg Academy Rebels last fall to a second place finish in District 5-A before the Rebels fell in the opening round of the MPSA football playoffs.

Taylor will be returning to his "home place" in accepting the Cougars' head coaching offer.

“We will always consider Jones County home, but I was raised in Magee,” said the 1967 graduate of Magee High School.

Taylor spent 27 seasons coaching football at West Jones where he compiled an 174-121-1 record. He went 4-7 last year in his only season as head coach at Heidelberg Academy.

Taylor will replace Billy Wayne Hankins, who won three AA titles in six seasons as head coach of the Cougars. Hankins will continue as the school’s athletic director, coach the junior high football team and be the assistant headmaster.

Heidelberg Academy officials will be begin searching for a replacement immediately.

“We will be selling our house here and plan on moving to Magee as soon as that process is complete,” Taylor told the Leader-Call on Wednesday night in an interview.

“I met with the players at Simpson on Tuesday and they have an outstanding program with some fine looking players,” said Taylor.

Taylor is taking over for Billy Wayne Hankins, who won three state titles in his six seasons as head coach of the Cougars. Hankins will be the school's Athletic Director and will assist the headmaster.

“I guess the toughest part will be that we open the season at Heidelberg. That will be tough," Taylor said.

Stringer and HA football game off

Heidelberg Academy and Stringer High School will not play each other in football. With the coaching changes at both Stringer and Heidelberg Academy the game appears doomed. At this time both teams will have an open date on September 14. Former Heidelberg Academy football coach Mike Taylor said the Rebels will have an open date since it is so late to try and find an opponent at this late date.