By Robert Wilson
Josh Zeitz has built the boys basketball program at Clinton Christian Academy to one of the best in the MAIS.
Teddy Dyess wants to do the same in football at CCA.
Dyess – one of the winningest football coaches in Mississippi history – begins his first year at CCA after retiring from public schools after 31 seasons as a coach, the last 22 as head coach.
Dyess, 55, has a 225-54 record, an 80.6 winning percentage, the second highest winning percentage of any coach in Mississippi history with more than 200 wins. Only former National Coach of the Year and Mississippi Hall of Fame member Ricky Black – who won 401 games and had an 83.3 winning percentage in 40 seasons and retired in 2020 – had a better winning percentage.
Dyess has won six state championships, two as a player at Bassfield, one as an assistant coach at Madison Central, two as a head coach at Lumberton and one as a head coach at Magee in 2020 when he went 12-0 and defeated Noxubee County 49-26 for the MHSAA Class 3A state title.
Dyess has never had a losing season at a head coach. The closest he came was in 2016 when he was 6-6 at Philadelphia. He has won at least 10 games in 15 of his 22 seasons as head coach, averaging 10.6 wins per season. He went five consecutive years (2009-13) without losing a region game at Philadelphia. Dyess has had two undefeated seasons and five more seasons, including four consecutive at Philly, with only one loss.
Dyess was 13-9 in his two years at Ridgeland, 6-5 in 2021 and 7-4 in 2022.
“After our initial meeting, I knew Coach Dyess was the guy for the job,” first-year Clinton Christian head of school Jason Taylor said. “He has a strong work ethic and focuses on teamwork first and foremost. Coach Dyess has a strong passion for his players all while holding them accountable. Since Day One, he has walked in and took this team on and has already made a lasting impression. Coach Dyess has transitioned from many successful years in public school to private school, without incident. The players’ mindset and culture has changed. They have shown a desire to really put their focus into the sport and are working as a team. Coach Dyess works as a team member of the CCA staff and has already become an asset to me and the rest of the staff. I have no doubt that the football program is in a much better place with Coach Dyess and his staff. I have faith that many positive changes will come as a result of hiring him.”
This year for Dyess brings back memories of his first year in Philadelphia in 2007. The Tornadoes were coming off a 5-5 season and Dyess was coming from a successful program at Lumberton.
“It reminds me a lot of Philly,” Dyess said. “We went 10-3 that first year. We lost to a 1-10 Neshoba team to start the year. We got better every game and lost to Enterprise-Clarke in third round of the playoffs.”
CCA finished 6-5 last season, its best year since going 8-4 and losing to eventual state champion Greenville St. Joseph in the state quarterfinals in 2018. CCA won only seven games from 2019-2021 before last year’s winning season. CCA had a 1-3 record in Class 4A, District 3, finishing fourth of five teams.
Dyess inherits 12 returning starters, including possibly the biggest player in the MAIS, 6-foot-7, 320-pound junior Josiah Clemons, who Dyess has a chance to play Division I football and has great potential. Also back is 6-4, 280-pound senior guard Cooper Orman – who Dyess says has college potential and is one of CCA’s leaders. Senior wide receiver Say Stamps (6-2, 175) is coming off an ACL injury, but Dyess expects him to contribute to the offense and senior defensive end Isiah Bennett (6-2, 225) is a playmaker on defense.
“The biggest challenge is numbers and we have about 40 out, which is great for our size school,” Dyess said. “I’m used to 55 and 75 players. We have improved facilities everywhere we’ve been. We have a great vision and are doing the same thing at CCA.
“We will be holding the kids accountable. They’ve got to be where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there. Believing is huge. We will never beat Tri-County (the favorite to win Class 4A, District 4 this season) until we believe we can.”
“Coach Dyess is a very experienced and intelligent coach on the field, but still is a very genuine man off the field,” Stamps said. “I can name plenty of times, I’ve woke up to a Bible verse or words of encouragement from Coach Dyess. Or maybe even a random check-in call reminding me that I matter or making sure I’m hydrating. He lifts us up and gives us confidence we didn’t know we had. I have so much raw excitement and anticipation of this upcoming season. With the help of Coach Dyess and the coaches he’s put in position to coach to us this year, we’ll definitely be a team to watch this year. I love Coach Dyess and firmly believe that he is turning the whole program around one day at a time.”
“Coach Dyess played a big role for me as a player and also taught me when times get hard never quit on your teammates because those guys were counting on me,” said Jabraxton Boone, who played for Dyess at Ridgeland and now is a freshman playing at Central Arkansas. “I have used what he told me in everyday life. I can’t thank Coach Dyess enough for how much time and effort he put into me, not only as a player but as a man.”
“Not only was Coach Dyess a great coach, but he also was a great father figure when I lost my dad,” said Zay Franks, who was a senior on Dyess’ undefeated and state championship team at Magee in 2020 and is playing at Southern Miss. “Coach stepped up and was a father and a leader. He pushed me to be better than who I was on the field and off the field. Coach Dyess is not your average coach. He comes in programs not only to win and make you a great football player, but to change you as a person. He wants you to be a great father one day.”
Clinton Christian opens the season Friday at Greenville St. Joseph. CCA’s first district game is Sept. 1 against Riverfield, La., Academy at Clinton.
