House Resolution 31

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING COACH BRAD DUNCAN, HEAD COACH OF THE WEST MARION HIGH SCHOOL TROJANS FOOTBALL TEAM, FOR BEING NAMED AS THE WINNER OF THE 2010 LESLIE PETERS COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD AND FOR HIS SUCCESSFUL 2010 FOOTBALL SEASON.

WHEREAS, Brad Duncan, Head Coach of the West Marion High School Trojans Football Team, was named as the winner of the Leslie Peters Coach of the Year Award at the 2010 WDAM/Hair World of Laurel All-Area Football Team awards banquet in December 2010; and

WHEREAS, Coach Duncan led the Trojans to an 8-4 record during the 2010 season, the area's biggest turnaround after winning just two games in each of the previous three seasons; and

WHEREAS, Coach Duncan is a graduate of Columbia Academy, where he played football, basketball and baseball, and he began his coaching career by coaching Pee Wee Football and then serving as a volunteer football coach at Columbia Academy from 1986-1990; and

WHEREAS, hired as a noncertified assistant football coach at Columbia Academy in 1991, Coach Duncan served under Head Coach Jimmy Lowrey until 1996 while returning to school part time at the University of Southern Mississippi, after having left in 1977; and

WHEREAS, Coach Duncan began coaching at West Marion High School in 1997, the same year he graduated from USM, serving as assistant football coach, junior high basketball coach, assistant high school girls basketball coach, and head high school boys basketball coach from 1999-2001; and

WHEREAS, returning to his alma mater, Coach Duncan served as head football coach at Columbia Academy from 2002-2004, and under his skillful guidance, he took the 2003 team to its first playoff appearance since 1991; and

WHEREAS, Coach Duncan returned to West Marion in 2005 as head football coach, and in a masterful job of rebuilding the team, he led the 2010 Trojans to their first playoff appearance since 2001 with an 8-4 record, which earned him the Coach of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, Coach Duncan's guiding philosophy of life is to be a positive influence on the young people that he teaches and coaches, and to teach them to be responsible young adults, to have dreams and goals and never give up on those dreams, to keep doing things the right way and doing what you are supposed to do and good things will happen for you; and

WHEREAS, Coach Duncan has brought honor to himself and to West Marion High School in guiding the Trojans to a successful 2010 season and for being named as Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend excellence, especially by those who are providing such a positive influence to the youth of this state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Coach Brad Duncan, Head Coach of the West Marion High School Trojans Football Team, for being named as the winner of the 2010 Leslie Peters Coach of the Year Award and for his successful 2010 football season.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Brad Duncan, West Marion High School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.