The Vicksburg Gators are calling a handoff for the offensive coordinator position.

Jackie Williamson, who has spent the past five seasons in that role, has resigned to take a new job as quarterbacks and strength coach at Laurel High School. Alonzo Stevens will take on a dual role as head coach and offensive coordinator for Vicksburg next season.

Williamson starts his new job at Laurel on June 1. He said he’s leaving Vicksburg for family reasons.

“We hate to leave Vicksburg, but my wife’s family is having health issues and they live in the Oak Grove area, so we want to be close by,” Williamson said. “I looked into several positions in the Laurel-Hattiesburg area and I’m taking a position at Laurel High. I’m going to work with the quarterbacks and be the strength coach for all of Laurel’s athletic teams and that’s something I really wanted to do.”

Williamson is a 13-year coaching veteran. He served two stints at Vicksburg, the first from 1998-2003. He left to become the head coach at Terry High School in 2003, but returned to his old job at VHS after just one season. Since Williamson’s return, Vicksburg has made the playoffs three times. Vicksburg was 9-2 in 2008 and made the second round of the Class 4A playoffs before falling to New Hope 13-7.

Williamson was also a top-notch strength coach, leading several of his lifters, including Kalum Martin and Jeremy Hamlin, to individual state championships this year.

Stevens said he was sad to see Williamson go, but understood the circumstances.

“I’m telling you, Jackie Williamson is an outstanding man, coach, and a great friend. He has been a great asset for the Vicksburg High program,” Stevens said.

Williamson said he was excited to join the staff at Laurel. In 2007, the Tornadoes won the Class 4A football championship, beating Noxubee County in the finals.

“Right now, Laurel is pretty young in spots, but they are going to be really good again, soon,” Williamson said.

As for Vicksburg, Stevens says the main changes in the offense will be a shift from Williamson’s spread attack toward more of a wing formation.

“I’m laying the offense on me. We have a young quarterback, so we’re going to run the wing more. I think that will help with his confidence. We’re still going to run some spread,” Stevens said. “It’s going to be a challenge. We lost 32 seniors and only have two starters back. We’ve lost everyone on both the offensive and defensive lines.”

Along with Williamson, Stevens said his staff will also lose secondary coach Gary Lewis, who is going to pursue his doctorate degree.

“The good news is I’m bringing back one of our former Gators in Ben Shelton to coach with us. Ben will coach our defensive backs and receivers. We also look to have Andre Bennett become a full-time coach after he completes all his requirements. That’ll give us two Gators in the fold,” Stevens said.

Shelton was a standout receiver for the Gators, garnering a handful of school and county receiving records. He played two seasons at Hinds Community College before transferring and completing his degree work at Mississippi State.

Bennett starred at VHS before becoming an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference offensive lineman for Grambling. He was a part-time assistant for Vicksburg last season.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com