By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Dec. 18, 2003
SCOOBA East Mississippi Community College has already received plenty of phone calls from interest parties concerning the school's imminent head football coach and athletic director vacancy.
EMCC chief administrative officer Dr. W.S. "Bud" Smith said the junior college has already received inquiries into the position that Tom Goode will step down from on July 1, 2004.
Goode, who has been the Lions head football coach and athletic director for the past 12 years, announced his retirement at the end of the school year in November.
EMCC will officially start its search for Goode's replacement in early January of 2004, and Smith said the process of hiring a new football coach, who will also take over the athletic director duties, will take about six weeks.
Smith said a hiring committee will not be formed until the deadline to submit applications ends. EMCC will advertise for the position in local and statewide newspapers.
Goode guided the Lions to a 3-6 record this past season, and he will leave EMCC with an overall mark of 47-61. In his 12 years with the program, Goode helped over 240 players move on to senior colleges.
Goode took over the Lions program in 1992, following stints as an offensive assistant at four Southeastern Conference programs.
He began his coaching career at Mississippi State University, where he played from 1957-60, in 1966. He returned to his alma mater as the offensive line coach from 1972-75, following a 10-year pro career. He also coached at Vanderbilt, Alabama and Ole Miss.
Goode played center and linebacker for the Bulldogs. He was a three time All-SEC selection and a Kodak All-American (1960), and he played in The Blue-Gray Game (1960), the Senior Bowl (1961) and the All-American game (1961) after his final season with MSU.
After college, he was drafted in the second round by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. After four years with the Oilers, he went on to play for the Miami Dolphins.
Goode was named the Dolphins' Most Valuable Player in 1967, the team's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1966 and 1969 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1969.
Goode ended his playing career with the Baltimore Colts in 1970, as a member of the Colts' Super Bowl V winning team