Marcus Wood of ‘Last Chance U’ returns to coach Holmes CC
GOODMAN, Miss. (BVM) — The Netflix series “Last Chance U” showed us that the journey for some athletes and coaches can be challenging, yet rewarding. For coach Marcus Wood Sr., that journey has brought him back to Holmes Community College.
Before becoming a coach, Wood was a product of East Mississippi Community College. He played for then head football coach Tom Goode. Wood would continue his football career with Bucknell University. Ultimately, he ended his playing career with Georgetown College in Kentucky.
Following his playing days, Wood joined Holmes as a volunteer assistant in 1996. But following his time at Holmes, Wood would return to his alma mater and became the Lion’s full-time running back coach.
Wood headed the high school ranks shortly after his first stint at EMCC. His first stop was at Meridian High School. He served as an assistant for three years (1998-00). Meridian captured the Region 3-5A state championship in his final year with the team.
Moving on from Meridian, Wood landed at Philadelphia High School. From 2001-02, Wood helped the team to back-to-back state playoff appearances.
Wood moved on to Columbia High School. He’d have another successful tenure there as a coach and helped the football team to three straight Class 3A state playoff appearances (2003-05). Wood would spend two seasons (2006-07) as the head football coach at Gulfport High School before returning to Scooba.
Then for nine seasons (2008-16), Wood operated as the Lions’ offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach under Buddy Stephens. During that stretch, the EMCC offense flourished. The Lions’ offense averaged 50-plus points a game and compiled an overall record of 87-12 (51-3 division play). The Lions captured three National Junior College Athletic Association national championships, won five Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges state titles, eight division crowns and five NJCAA bowl victories.
Simultaneously, the show “Last Chance U” was developed, during what would end up being Wood’s final two seasons at EMCC, which was featured in the first and second season the Netflix series. When it was released, it became one of the most captivating shows in the country. And Wood was at the forefront.
“I spent nine years coaching there [EMCC], 15 years total,” Wood Sr. said. “I know some of the stuff you see on camera can be kind of volatile, but it is just one of those deals where I was really fortunate to be there. I really don’t have any grudges or animosity, I’m thankful for my time there.”
Following the last season of the series, Wood’s older brother Raleigh passed away from a brain tumor. He ultimately decided to take some time away from the sidelines to reconnect and spend some quality time with his family.
Cherish the time you have! Remembering Great Fathers Raleigh Edward Wood Jr. (Jan.23,1937-Mar.6,1973) & Raleigh Edward Wood III (Nov.28,1962-Sept.12,2019) #FathersDay pic.twitter.com/vxGJvNFN4b
— Marcus Wood Sr. (@CoachWood_HCC) June 19, 2022
“When I moved off the sidelines at East Mississippi, my oldest had just entered college as a soccer player,” Wood said. “My second born was being recruited as a soccer player and a baseball player, and my third born was just coming into high school. I was able to take a step back and really watch [them play].”
However, the football field started calling Wood’s name again. Different schools would call him, asking to be his coach, but there was one school that just felt right.
“I had a good job,” Wood said. “So many great people at East Mississippi I was working with. But when this one called, it seemed like the right fit. It was a going home type of situation for me. I’ve been there before, and I had a brother that was [coaching] here. It was a good opportunity and something I was really excited about.”
Along with Wood joining the Holmes coaching staff, he will be reuniting with some of his former players. Players like Bo Wallace and Damion Willi and Marcel Andry.
“I’ve got two guys that are really instrumental with it [play calling] that are helping me,” Wood said. “I hired Damion Willis, who played for us at EMCC. Then one of my original quarterbacks from my early days, Bo Wallace, is going to be great. I also hired a guy named Les George, who was the offensive line coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast. A really good group on that [offensive] side of the ball.”
Alongside his former players, Wood also has the opportunity to work with former EMCC defensive coordinator William Jones again. Wood also hired Barney Farrar, who helped Ole Miss have four straight top-15 recruiting classes in the past.
“I got a good mix of veteran guys,” Wood said. “Then I’ve got three guys I’ve coached that are younger guys. All that’s good, and they do a great job relating to kids. [But] our expectations are very high, and that’s just the way we are. We’re very competitive. That’s the way we’re hardwired, and I’m looking forward to it.”
For coach Wood, coaching has brought forth so many rewarding moments. But when players overcome adversity and become the person, they know they can be, that’s far more rewarding than what happens on the football field.
“It’s super rewarding,” Wood said. “When you step back from expectations [you’ve set for the season], you realize there’s just a lot more than winning on the scoreboard. When you take a look at a guy like Isaiah [Wright], who’s overcome a lot of things, to see him land back on his feet is very rewarding. I’m very proud of him for that and so many other guys…to see him overcome stuff that’s really what it’s about.
The whole purpose of the junior colleges is to get these guys on track. That was covered a little bit with guys like Dakota Allen. Sometimes that gets lost in the mix because everybody wants to win. But at the end of the day the vision is to take these guys and get them back to a higher level.”
It’s been an incredible journey for Wood. He is where he wants to be and he’s eager to get the Holmes Bulldogs football season underway. And at Holmes, he’ll aim to keep changing the lives of young athletes.
“I loved the vision the president [Dr. Jim Haffey] has,” Wood said. “We’re young and very athletic. We got some athletic guys and a lot of enthusiasm and I’m looking forward to that.”
FOOTBALL: Marcus Wood named new head football coach pic.twitter.com/B0X48b88hP
— Holmes Athletics (@holmesathletics) October 29, 2021
