James and Paul Courtney, a pair of French Camp Academy graduates, teamed up to lead Nanih Waiya High School to the MHSAA Class 1A State Football Championship with a win over Hollandale Simmons.
It was James' first year as a head coach, after serving as an assistant at NW last year. When he got the head job at Nanih Waiya, he was quick to call his brother Paul.
James was Nanih Waiya’s defensive coordinator last year when the Warriors came agonizingly close to the state title, losing 22-20 to Simmons. When then NW head coach Ryan Keeton left to take a coaching position at Tupelo, James was promoted to head coach and he hired his brother to oversee the offense. They had previously coached together as assistants at Choctaw County.
“I thought he was a perfect fit. He has a blue collar philosophy for offense,” James said. “He did a great job coming in and installing his system.”
Paul said he had no hesitation about accepting the offensive coordinator position when it was offered by his brother. “When I came down here for spring football, I knew we had a chance to be really good.”
James said one of the keys to the team’s success was the only loss, 33-23 to 3A powerhouse Winona. “We felt like if we could play with them, we could play with anybody.”
Their father, Larry Courtney, was a long time football coach at the high school, junior college and college level. “He was very, very influential in my life,” Paul said.
Both played football at French Camp. Paul, a quarterback, graduated in 1997, James, a linebacker and fullback, two years later.
“They were fun to coach because they learned fast,” said French Camp principal and athletic director Rusty McKnight, who was the Panthers’ football coach when the brothers were players. “When I went to their house on a weekend, they weren’t just watching football, they were learning football. Both of them were great leaders and knew the game of football.”
Paul had a great junior year, McKnight said. “We were running a no huddle and it was all built because Paul was smart enough to do that.”
The Panthers were undefeated Paul’s senior year when he tore his ACL. “He came back and played a part of the year with a big old brace on,” McKnight said.
James went on Ole Miss where he played football before suffering a career-ending injury. He was an assistant coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Bruce, Eupora and Choctaw County prior to Nanih Waiya, where he teaches Social Studies.
He had previously coached with Keeton at Bruce. “Ryan ran a great program. We both preach being physical, holding our kids accountable and playing hard every down.”
Paul received an undergraduate degree at Mississippi State and a law degree from Ole Miss, although he has never practiced. He chose instead to become an educator and coach. “I wanted to help some kids on the front end before they got in trouble on the back end.”
He does that as a coach, physical education teacher and drug education teacher.
Paul said there is a possibility that he might practice law some day, “but I’m pretty happy with what I’m doing, especially with the success we had this year.”
He previously coached at French Camp, Weir prior to consolidation with Ackerman, then Choctaw County after the two schools merged. He was the Weir head coach for one year before consolidation, and would not rule out being a head coach again.
“I think if the right opportunity came along, I might consider being a head coach again. But I’m pretty happy doing what I’m doing now.”
In addition to his father, two other coaches who had a strong influence on Paul were Junior Graham and Joe Gant. He coached under both at Weir.
Their success did not surprise Eupora athletic director Adam Dillinger, who was head coach at Choctaw County when James and Paul were assistants. “They’re both great football guys who care about their kids. They’re both passionate about the game and passionate about turning teenagers into young men.
“Nanih Waiya is fortunate to have both. They complement each other well. Paul is an offensive guy and James is a defensive guy. I was fortunate to have them.”
A younger brother, Chris, who also played football at French Camp, is now an assistant coach at Pisgah.
