Ricky Woods couldn’t refuse an old friend, but he had no intention of returning as head coach.
Demopolis High School has appointed Woods, a 300-game winner and member of the Mississippi Coaches Hall of Fame, as its interim head football coach.
Lance Tucker, who resigned from the position in June, is replaced by him.When Demopolis superintendent Adam Pugh recognized that hiring a coach in the midst of the summer was problematic, he gave Woods a call.
“I started interviewing for a full-time position with the principal, Mr. Frederick Franklin, but as we got into it, I felt we just needed to pump the brakes a bit,” Pugh recalled. Many people wanted to speak with us but were unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts at their current work. We made the decision to simply use an interim for this year and reopen it in November or December when the timing was more favorable.
Pugh knew exactly who he should call. He was employed by Woods as an assistant at Eupora, Mississippi, thirty-five years ago.
Woods remarked, “I gave Adam his first job.” He is an excellent administrator and guy. I was aware that most coaches had contracts and that the situation was a bit late for him. I had no intention of becoming a head coach again. However, he informed me of the circumstances and requested that someone work diligently until Christmas in an effort to fill a hole until his application pool was somewhat larger. It excites us. I’ll come in, work as hard as I can, and have fun with the children. It will be a welcome shift.
Finding a more qualified interim coach would be difficult.
He had eight state titles and three state runner-up places during his 28 years as a high school head coach, with a 300-71 record. He served as head coach of six Mississippi high schools, including two at South Panola, a dominant school. He led South Panola to a 15-0 record and the second of four consecutive state titles in 2004, earning him the distinction of EA Sports national high school coach of the year. Additionally, Woods was selected Mississippi’s Jackson Clarion-Ledger Coach of the Decade from 2000 to 2010.
“I’ve had a lot of great players who were coachable, and if anyone has won a lot of games, they’ve had a lot of great players,” he remarked. I’ve had excellent coaches and players, and it’s never about you; it’s about the people you surround yourself with.
To spend more time with his sick mother, Woods left South Panola in 2021. He has been assisting Michael Fair, another of his previous aides, at Grenada, Mississippi High for the past two years. Last fall, the Chargers took home the Class 6A state championship.
Woods will formally begin his temporary position on Monday after meeting with the Demopolis team and parents on Sunday. He did reiterate that the position was temporary. “Now, I have grandchildren,” he shared. Although I spoke with them prior to accepting the position, I enjoy seeing them work. It’s unquestionably interim.
Under Tucker, the Demopolis squad finished 17-7 in two years, including 7-4 in 2024, before Woods took command. On August 22, the Tigers will make their debut at Class 6A powerhouse Mountain Brook.
“I have to come in and find out their names first,” Woods joked. They already have a strong program. Many of the things they have been doing, we will continue to do. I’ll take it into account. Although we may lag somewhat, we will begin modestly and build upon some of coach Tucker’s efforts. If necessary, we will reorganize the staff. Many of the helpers are still present. We’ll rely upon them.
According to Woods, he will also bring in veteran Mississippi coach Ron Oakes to serve as the offensive line coach.
There is only one way to do this, he replied, and I explained that to the children yesterday. We shall do it that way because that’s the only way I know how to do it.
Woods has been married to his wife, Susan, for forty-six years. He claimed that in his more than 500 games, she had never missed one. They have three grandchildren and two sons.
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