Keeton Making the Move from Nanih Waiya; Courtney Takes Over Warriors

(Helmet Photo Courtesy: MS Sports Photos)

NANIH WAIYA, Miss. (WCBI) — One football coach is making the move north during the prep pigskin off-season.

Nanih Waiya head football coach Ryan Keeton will be stepping down following three seasons with the Warriors to join the Tupelo High football coaching staff pending board approval.

Keeton will be succeeded by James Courtney at Nanih Waiya pending board approval. Courtney was Keeton’s defensive coordinator last season for the Warriors.

Ryan Keeton joined Nanih Waiya in 2015 and continued the on-field success of the Warriors. He led NW to three consecutive Region 3-1A titles and a 37-8 overall record. This past season, Keeton and the Warriors made the 1A State Title game for the first time since 1991.

James Courtney will take over as head football coach at Nanih Waiya. A French Camp native and Ole Miss graduate, Courtney has had coaching stops at Choctaw County, Eupora, Bruce and Copiah Lincoln Community College. This will be his first head coaching job.

“Nanih Waiya is a great community,” Courtney told WCBI. “We have great kids and great administrators. This is a great opportunity for my family and me.”

Nanih Waiya’s football players were informed of the news on Thursday afternoon that Courtney will be taking over as head coach pending board approval and were “excited, beating on lockers and yelling Courtney’s name” according to a source.