Page 58 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2020

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
LEAVING AN IMPRESSION
Dodd Lee and his daughter Tabatha
D odd Lee closed out a remarkable 24 years as the head football coach
of the Picayune Maroon Tide on December 7, 2019. It ended with a 38-26 loss to West Jones in the Class 5A title game at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg. It was the only setback su ered by Picayune after running o 14 consecutive wins.
Lee leaves Picayune with an impressive 223- 71 win-loss record, having claimed 12 district titles and two state championships during
his tenure. Counting his six seasons at East Central, Lee has 265 career wins.
“We worked hard and had great help, some of the nest men in the world working with me, supporting me everyday,” Lee said. “We have kids who answered every call, went the extra mile and did the little things that most people don’t want to do.” Lee coached his nal season with a heavy heart. His 40-year-old daughter, Tabatha, died in a car accident on February 2, 2019. A teary- eyed Lee said, “We have a strong faith and we
just have to believe God knew what was best for her and you just don’t question that – you keep going.”
Retiring from Picayune doesn’t mean he won’t coach again. He said, “My son-in-law, Seth Smith, is the new head coach at Pearl River Community College (PRCC) and I’m going to help him. I’ll do whatever he asks me to do.” Who had an in uence on his coaching career? Lee said, “When I was born my dad, Ezell, was the head coach at McLain High. He had a big in uence on my work ethic. I played with PRCC head coach J.C. Arban and with Billy Brewer at Southeastern Louisiana, but the man who helped me the most was Picayune head coach Calvin Triplett. We won the 1986 state title.” What type of in uence did Lee have on his players after 40 years of coaching? Twenty-six of them are coaching football, including new Picayune head coach Cody Stogner.
Dodd Lee
Dodd Lee Leaves a Legendary Coaching Career at Picayune High School
story by A.J. Giardina photos courtesy of Dodd Lee
58 | March 2020 3 | Dec. 2020
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