By Robert Wilson
The winningest high school soccer coach in Mississippi history will not be coaching next year.
Jon Marcus Duncan, who has coached at Jackson Prep for past 25 years, is going to go work with his father, Jimmy Duncan.
Duncan, 48, has 862 wins (474 girls and 388 boys) and 30 state titles (15 boys and 15 girls) in 25 seasons. He has an 83 percent winning percentage for his career.
Duncan passed Karl Friedrich of Harrison Central in August of last year as the winningest coach in Mississippi history last fall. Friedrich finished with 831 victories in 32 seasons at Harrison Central. He retired in 2012 and started Harrison Central’s soccer program in 1982. He coached boys from 1982-2012 and girls from 1997-2012.
Duncan, a Prep and University of Mobile graduate, started his coaching career in 2000.
Duncan’s father, Jimmy Duncan, called him in the summer of 2000 when Jon Marcus was working day camps at UMS-Wright High School in Mobile.
“He said, JM, the Prep soccer job is open,” Jon Marcus said. “You may want to give (then Prep athletic director) Dwayne Cupples a phone call or he might be calling you.”
Jon Marcus didn’t waste any time.
“I immediately asked for the number, and I called Coach Cupples,” Jon Marcus said. “I went on two interviews and a week or two later was offered the job. I would be teaching seventh grade life science and also head coach for both boys and girls soccer programs. I graduated from the University of Mobile with a bachelor’s degree in biology so that helped with the life science teaching.”
Twenty-five years later, Duncan is the most successful soccer coach in Mississippi history.
“The timing was good for me on the move to a new career,” Duncan said. “With (his youngest daughter) Abby graduating and headed down to play at Jones, I really felt like it was time to move on. Jackson Prep has been nothing short of outstanding for me and my family. I was able to coach both of my daughters, Josie (a junior at Mississippi State) and Abby (graduates from Prep in May). My wife Tammy has played a major role in my success because of her support for this program. My heart will always be full with Prep red and blue. When I took this job 25 years ago I never imagined how rewarding it was going to be. The relationships with faculty, players, parents, and coaching staffs have been unbelievable. Jackson Prep is a great place to work. The commitment from the school in regard to athletics, academics, and the arts is second to none. I can’t thank the people at Prep enough for what they have done for me and my family over the past 25 years. I’ll always be a coach at heart. I’m not retiring from coaching. I have plenty of energy, which is why I feel that this is a good time for me to explore another career. I’ll keep that door open to still coach. But for now, I need to put it on the side and focus my energy into something else. Athletic director Will Crosby and head of school Lawrence Coco has been outstanding in this process and I know that they will find a great replacement for me. The relationships I’ve built through the coaching ranks will last a lifetime and for that I’m so thankful.”
“We are certainly sad to see Jon Marcus leave,” Crosby said. “He is more than just the ultra successful, record breaking soccer coach for Jackson Prep. For the last 25 years, he has integrated himself into every aspect of school life and the school community. He will always be a part of Prep family and Jackson Prep will always be his home.”
“When I decided to take the soccer job at Prep, I never imagined this,” Duncan said. “I never knew what the record was until a few years ago. It was never about the record, but always about making Jackson Prep Soccer one of the best programs in the state of Mississippi and the country. Each and every player that contributed to this program holds a special place in my heart. I can’t thank them enough. Jackson Prep’s support for this soccer program can’t be measured, absolutely unbelievable. Each and every assistant coach that has been on the field with me have been awesome. I’ve been blessed for sure.”
Prep junior forward and Auburn commitment Torrey Polk has learned a lot from Duncan. Polk led the team in scoring for the past two seasons.
“Coach Duncan is a huge role model for me,” said Polk, who has played on the varsity since the seventh grade. “The way he loves and has so much passion for the game makes me want to play harder for him. I’ve grown up being him coaching around and couldn’t wait until the day I stepped foot on that Prep field to play for him.”
“Coach Duncan taught me a lot about facing adversity,” said Austin Craft, who played for Duncan and graduated in 2024. “My years at Prep were filled with highs and lows, but he always helped us stay in the game and move onto the next play.”
Laura Lee Smith (Beneke) is considered the best girls player Duncan has ever coached and one of the best girls players in Mississippi history. She won the Mississippi Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year twice as a junior and senior in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Beneke played varsity six years and helped Prep win four state championships (2005-2008). She went on to be an All-SEC performer at Alabama. She is now an emergency room doctor at UMMC.
“I can remember meeting Coach Duncan when I showed up at the Prep soccer camp in elementary school,” Beneke said. “He might not even recall the moment, but he asked me where I would be attending high school. When I told him my parents were sending me to Prep, he said, ‘Great, we are going to be a team,’ and then proceeded to really pay attention to me – for better or for worse – every time I showed up at camp. Even very young, I could sense how passionate he was about coaching.
“I was very fortunate to have Jon Marcus as my high school soccer coach to help me navigate high school and club soccer schedules with college recruiting occurring throughout the year. He clearly always had my best interest in mind to support my staying strong and healthy. We had a lot of wins during my time at Prep, but his passion on the field for every single game never allowed us to become complacent or think any win was a guarantee.
“One of my favorite things about Coach Duncan is how he shows up with the same intensity and passion to every practice and every game year after year.”
“Coach Duncan is a great coach and mentor,” said Prep senior midfielder Elliot Davis, who was a member of Prep’s state championship team last season. “He’s competitive and his desire to win is contagious. Coach Duncan truly cares about each and every one of his players. It’s been a pleasure to play for him.”
Daniel Lang played for Duncan from 2006-2011 and won a state title his senior year, a part of that team that finished 22-0, ranked in the Top 20 in the country and was the first Prep team to go undefeated with no losses and no ties. That team was the start of a Mississippi record 10 straight state championships for Duncan and Prep. Lang played soccer at Mississippi College and is now the Director of Economic Development at the City of Flowood.
“Coach Duncan always knows the key to winning is preparation,” Lang said. “He prepares his players for tough moments before the season and before each game. Coach Duncan knows how to get the best effort out of each of his players in the easy and hard times. He always pushed me to be the best player and person I could be and looking back now I know he was preparing myself and all of us for whatever life throws at us. Coach Duncan truly had an indelible mark on my life of which I’m grateful for.”
Jackson Academy coach Phillip Buffington helped Duncan get many of his wins. Buffington was one of the best high school soccer players in Mississippi history when he played for Duncan and Prep in the mid-2000s. Buffington and Duncan have had many great games since Buffington became the head boys and girls coach at JA six years ago.
“Duncan coached the same way in Year 25 as he did in Year 1 with enthusiasm, energy, and drive, which I think is one of the most impressive things about him,” said Buffington, who has won four state titles at JA. “Duncan and I maintained a great relationship on and off the field from being a player in 2000-2005 to coaching with him for one year and then coaching against each other for the last 10 years.”
Jon Marcus was my point guard when I coached at Prep and he was a tremendous leader and inspiration.
Congratulations to you Jon Marcus for a job well done. Best wishes as you begin a new journey.