VHS names former professional baseball player Kent Willis as their next head coach

Vicksburg High School has hired former professional baseball player Kent Willis as its new head coach.

“I feel like it’s a great opportunity and I would like to thank the administration for giving me this opportunity,” Willis said. I’ve had the opportunity to be in baseball for 35 plus years so I’m very excited.”

Willis, who is a native of Columbus, Mississippi, was voted in by the Vicksburg-Warren School District Board of Trustees on Thursday night.

Willis is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he pitched before being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1986. He eventually played in Triple-A before starting his coaching career with the Atlanta Braves organization.

Willis has coached with multiple professional teams, including the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Mississippi Braves, Rome Braves, Danville Braves, and the Gulf Coast League Braves. He is currently coaching with the RaliCats professional baseball team.

Most recently, Willis was the head coach of Murrah High School, but he has now found a new home at VHS, where he plans to keep their winning tradition alive.

“I might be silver-bearded but I’m certainly not tired and there’s a lot of work to be done so that’s why I’m here and I want to make this the most dedicated and committed program,” Wills added.

The Gators have recently won back-to-back district championships and will now be under the leadership of Willis, who brings many years of coaching experience to the job.