David Sanders has officially been named head men’s basketball coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Sanders has spent the last eight years building Callaway High School into a basketball powerhouse.
The hiring was approved by the Co-Lin Board of Trustees on Thursday. He replaces Kenny Bizot, who is leaving to become the athletic director at Mississippi College in Clinton.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome David to the Co-Lin family,” said Co-Lin Athletic Director Bryan Nobile. “David has won at the highest level of Mississippi high school basketball. We are looking for someone with energy, drive and leadership to guide our student-athletes. I look forward to Coach Sanders getting to Wesson and starting work.”
Sanders compiled a 182-40 record during his eight years at Callaway High School including three state championship wins (2020, 2015, 2014). During his time at Callaway, over 30 seniors have received scholarships to play collegiate basketball.
“As an experienced head coach, David Sanders brings leadership, excitement and competitiveness to Co-Lin,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims. “I am thrilled to welcome Coach Sanders and his family to Co-Lin.”
“I am extremely humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to lead Copiah-Lincoln Community College as head basketball coach,” said Sanders. “This is the fulfillment of a dream that has been 14 years in the making. My family and I can’t wait to get started on this wonderful new journey.”
Prior to being named the head coach at Callaway, Sanders had head coaching stints at Northwest Rankin High School and Northwest Rankin Middle School. He also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater Provine High School.
Sanders is a graduate of Northwest Mississippi Community College. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi. Sanders is currently working on another master’s degree in coaching education from Ohio University.
He was named the Clarion-Ledger’s Coach of the Year in 2019-2020 and 2014-2015 and was named Metro Coach of the Year in 2013-2014. Three of his Callaway teams have been nationally ranked by the USA Today. Sanders is a member of the Mississippi Association of Coaches and the Mississippi Professional Educators.
A three-year letterman at The University of Mississippi, Sanders was a starter on the Sweet Sixteen that finished ninth in the country in 2000-2001. He received numerous awards at Ole Miss including Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player. Sanders played three seasons abroad with the Icelandic (Iceland), Swiss (Switzerland) and Turkish (Turkey) Leagues.
During his high school career, Sanders was recognized with several awards including Mississippi’s Mr. Basketball, Gatorade Player of the Year, All-State, and All-Metro Player of the Year.
“My desire is to be the premier junior college in the state and a top program nationally,” Sanders added. “The only way to accomplish that is to roll our sleeves up and go to work. Failure is not an option.”
Sanders and his wife, Dr. Tekla Sanders, are the parents of four children, David, 13; Luke, 12; Noah, 10; and Clara, 9.
https://www.colinathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/releases/20210506u3ld5t
