When Presbyterian Christian School Athletics Director Josh Dorman set out to fill the PCS head football coach vacancy, he and Headmaster Dr. Allen Smithers had a list of characteristics they wanted in a new coach.
Some were obvious like, “good organizational and communication skills,” or, “an enthusiastic coach with the work ethic that will be needed to build upon the foundation of success that is in place.” Because PCS educates its students from a “distinctively Biblical perspective,” as it says on its website, it was only right to look for a Christian role model as its football coach, too.
After a two-week search, South Carolina native Derek White was the man for the job, and he was introduced Thursday morning at the school. White checked all of the boxes for Dorman and Smithers, but White had to decide if the 10-hour move to a foreign state was best for his family.
It was only fitting he came to the conclusion on Easter Sunday.
“We left here Friday morning and we drove back to Atlanta, where my in-laws live,” White said. “I told Dr. Smithers I felt like I knew what I wanted to do, but I wanted to pray about it, I wanted to meditate on it and spend time with my family. Easter is a great season of our life; it gives us hope. I felt peace.
“I asked my wife, ‘Could you see yourself moving to Hattiesburg?’ and she said, ‘I already have.’”
White is a South Carolina man through and through. After playing high school football, the Greer, South Carolina, native played his college football at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina. He began his coaching career in 2006 as a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, then returned to Palmetto state in 2007 as an assistant coach at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina.
He was named the head coach at Ben Lippen School in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2014, and put together a 34-14 overall record with a state championship in 2016.
The move for White may seem strange, but former PCS secondary principal Chip Jones pointed White in the direction of the PCS gig. White said Jones was completely honest about the Bobcats’ football program, even going as far as telling White the good and the bad. Jones also added it was a great place for his family and his three kids to attend school.
“Anytime you take a job, it’s about relationships,” White said. “I just felt like the relationships here, and the state of PCS, was just an opportunity to take it to the next level. I saw a lot of potential and I saw a lot that could get better. It just excited me, it was a challenge and I’m willing to step outside the box a little bit.”
Dorman told PineBeltSPORTS last month that coaches from not only Mississippi but from across the Southeast were interested in the job. He said at Thursday’s press conference that there were applicants from all over the state, Memphis, South Carolina and everywhere in-between.
“When this job came open, we fully believed that there was going to be strong interest in the job. We believe that this is a destination that has a great foundation that (former PCS football coach Joey) Hawkins has built, and we felt like there would be strong interest. Obviously, until you get there, you don’t truly know that.”
PCS made contact with more than 20 coaches during the interview process, then the list was narrowed down to four coaches for the final round of interviews. White had his second interview last Friday, and he was offered the job. Dorman said White was the only candidate who was officially offered the job, too.
“We felt like from the very beginning when we first met him, he checked all of the boxes,” Dorman said. “Naturally, he and his family had some decisions from the perspective of considering a 10-hour move.”
White met with the team Thursday before the 9:30 a.m. press conference. He admitted he didn’t know much about Mississippi football, but he does have experience in leagues like the MAIS league.
“It’s very competitive from what I hear,” he said. “I’ve watched a little film, but I played in probably the best league in the country in private school football. We had a school there that won 11 straight state championships, and we were the one to dethrone them. I know there’s a mixture of styles, so it reminds me a lot of the South Carolina private school league.
“I’m excited. Good thing is nobody knows who I am either.”
