Former VHS coach Marcus Rogers is living a positive life

Marcus Rogers, a former Vicksburg High School head football coach, has changed his life around in a positive way and is leading a new team.

After wrapping up a 9-4 season in 2016 as VHS head coach, personal issues forced Rogers to resign in April 2017 and seek a coaching job elsewhere. He eventually landed an offensive coordinator job at Provine High School in Jackson, Miss.

Provine finished with a 6-5 record that season but Rogers knew it was time to move on.

“My mentality wasn’t strong enough to lead those you men at the time,” Rogers said, “and I remember telling my son that this would be my last year ever coaching football.”

In February 2018, Holmes County Consolidated School District Superintendent Dr. Angel Meeks and assistant principal Jason Young  gave Rogers a call about an opening of a head coaching position. They knew all about what Rogers had been through in the past, and they offered him a second chance to lead a team, which he graciously accepted. Not long after, he was named the school district’s athletic director by Dr. James Henderson.

Rogers only made one request, which was to bring along Montra Edwards Sr., his longtime friend and former teammate, as his defensive coordinator.

”Coach Edwards has always been influential to me even in our playing days at Jackson State 22 years ago,” Rogers said.

Before Rogers arrived at Holmes County Central, the Jaguars were a struggling team that just finished a 2-9 season. In his VHS coaching days, Rogers saw that Holmes had potential and that they could be great under the right leadership.

”They were always very talented and although we always defeated them when I was at VHS, I knew they just needed guidance,” Rogers said.

Since his arrival at Holmes County, Roger set his goals high for his new team.

”I told the administration that we were at least going to the North State Championship game,” Rogers said.

He finished his first season in 2018 with a 10-1 record and advanced to the second round of the playoffs where Holmes County hosted the game. Ten kids received athletic scholarships from the Jaguars that year.

By finishing his first season better than many expected, Rogers knew that the expectations would be high for his second year.

After graduating 28 seniors that year, he knew that the next season would be more challenging, but they still could pull off a great year with hard work and dedication. Holmes County lost three offensive players that had a combined 60 touchdowns, and they were completely starting over when it came to the offensive line.

”I knew our offense would be challenging, but we for sure had a championship defense,” Rogers said.

With Rogers leadership, Holmes County Central pulled off another great season in 2019. They went 8-4 and advanced to the playoffs. Nine players were awarded full athletic scholarships to college once the season ended, making the season even more special.

One of Rogers players, Montra Edwards Jr., became the first Dandy Dozen player in Holmes County history. Edwards also was an All-American and played in the Mississippi-Alabama All Star game. He recently signed to play at Missouri next season.

Rogers has had many other accomplishments since taking over Holmes County Central. He had five kids play in the Bernard Blackwell All Star game, and he was the offensive coordinator for the North in that game. He also coached the wide receivers in the Under Armour All-American last season.

These days, Rogers is living a happy life. He is praying more and more every day and thanking God for granting him the opportunities to lead again.

”Life is lovely and great, and I thank my family for sticking with me,” Rogers said, “and I have a great support system. I also thank God for everything and for getting me this far in life”

Rogers’ son, Khamauri Rogers, recently committed to LSU and is the No. 1 player in the state for the class of 2022. Another player, Corey Ellington, committed to Mississippi State University. He is part of the 2021 graduating class of Holmes County Central. In two seasons, 19 of Rogers’ players have been granted scholarships.

”I want to personally thank Jason Young and Charles Lacey for the opportunities here at Holmes County, and I also want to thank the Vicksburg-Warren School District Superintendent Chad Shealy for giving me the chance to coach at VHS,” Rogers said.

Through everything Rogers has been through, he is a living testimony that people can change, and hard times don’t always last. He has closed one chapter of his life and is looking forward to continuing the next one, being a great leader for young athletes.