Following the resignation of James Harvey as the head coach of Columbia High School football, Superintendent Jason Harris immediately began searching for not only the next candidate to fill those big shoes but the best one.
Harris and the School Board received more than 50 applications for the position, including multiple head coaches with state championships on their resume, but one name kept popping up — Perry Central head coach Chip Bilderback — and the Wildcats were able to secure their guy.
“Through this long list of qualified applicants came a person who defined what the ‘C’ is for Columbia, and that’s character,” Harris said during the introductory press conference Monday. “I can tell you that the future is bright for Columbia Wildcat football. I’m excited to welcome coach Chip Bilderback, (his wife) Missy and (son) Drew to our Wildcat family.”
CHS Principal Shelia Burbridge addressed the large crowd and provided optimism for the future of Columbia football.
“We are all excited and I’m so glad to be a part of Columbia High School as she continues to grow and transition into the next era of Wildcat football,” she said.
There were many factors that drew Bilderback, 38, to depart Perry Central after a successful two-year stint, and it didn’t take long for him to know he wanted to make Columbia his new home.
“Mr. Harris sold me within the first two minutes that this was a place that wanted to win championships, and that excited me. From the outside looking in, I've always been attracted by what the baseball team has done here and the basketball success they have had in the past, and also the football success,” he said. “I'm a firm believer in winning breeds winning and success breeds success, so that's what attracted me to this job. (Columbia) has great facilities, and when you go to the McDonald’s here in town and see all the football jerseys, you can see how important sports are to this community. Always as a coach you want to be somewhere where football is really important, and that excites me.”
Bilderback inherited a Perry Central team that went 5-6 in 2015 and quickly turned the Bulldogs into one of the top teams in 2A, guiding them to a 10-2 season in the fall with their two losses coming against Collins and Taylorsville, which squared off against each other in the South State championship, by a combined eight points. While his success in turning around a program was attractive to Harris, it was what Bilderback said in his interview that sealed the deal.
“When you go to look for a head football coach, especially here at Columbia, we were looking for someone with energy and passion that could revive (our program), get our players excited about playing football and get us back on track,” Harris said. “When he said to me that winning championships is important but more important was building championship young men off the field, that’s what you’re looking for. Obviously, winning championships is important, but that’s not our only goal. We’re here to create young men that can go out and be successful in the next stage of their lives.”
Harris added that the reality of high school athletes moving on following their graduation makes having the right head coach in place that much more important.
“A lot of them are going to live the time of their life playing high school football,” he said. “A very select few move onto the college ranks, so it’s important you find that person who is going to take care of the young men as they progress forward.”
Bilderback identified four goals as his blueprint to success: establish a hard-working and blue collar culture to earn the right to win, grow the program to get as many students involved and make it a great experience for the football players, be great coaches and develop young men and most importantly, develop champions.
“I believe you’re a champion before you even step foot on the football field on the way you work on a daily basis, the person you are and the character you instill in yourself,” he said. “Our coaches are going to really push them to be the very best men and football players they can be.”
Bilderback married into the family of one of the best coaches in the state in Purvis head coach Perry Wheat, who is Bilderback’s father-in-law and who taught him what it takes to be successful which extends past the gridiron.
“Coach Wheat taught me how to be a coach and made me a better person being around him. His main philosophy is what mine is — we want to build champions in life, then you can become a champion on the field,” he explained. “It’s something I’m called to do as a coach, and coach Wheat is the best at it. I’ve just been lucky to be around him for 10-plus years. He’s someone who is second to none in the state of Mississippi.”
Competing in Region 8 of 3A football in Mississippi, the Wildcats square off against some of the best teams in the state in Jefferson Davis County, West Marion, Tylertown and Seminary annually, which excites Bilderback.
“I think it’s the best 3A division in the state of Mississippi. The competitive side of me is I think we can be at the top of 8-3A really quick if we all work hard and buy in,” he said. “We all know this — if you’re at the top of 8-3A in football, you’re going to compete for a championship not only in the district but in the state. That’s going to be our goal from day one.”
Pacing the opposing sideline at Walter Payton Field at Gardner Stadium Sept. 8 as his Bulldogs beat Columbia 35-7, Bilderback got to see what the Wildcats are made of first hand and is eager to work with the returning talent.
“We played (Columbia) last year and got them at an opportune time. I knew what they had coming back and this weekend I was able to really dig in on film. They return a good nucleus, and there’s a lot to be excited about,” he said. “We are in the toughest league in the state in 3A, so we have to bring it every Friday night. With that being said, our focus is being consistent on a daily basis because every week we’re going to have to strap it on and get ready to play.”
Bilderback is set to begin work at Columbia after the new year and will begin work on filling out the rest of his coaching staff. At this point, it’s unclear which assistant coaches under Harvey will remain with the program, but Bilderback will bring in some new blood.
“He’s looking at some people that he’s interested in,” Harris said. “He’ll be looking, probably, to add some different coordinators to his staff. He’ll be starting Jan. 3, so we’re excited about that, then he’ll be able to find and build his coaching staff.”
Being a high school head coach comes with a lot of responsibility but also a lot of rewards, especially when their players leave to lead fulfilling lives.
“Coaching is something I’ve very passionate about,” Bilderback said. “I love to coach and build relationships with the young athletes. I love to develop them. More importantly, I love to see them achieve a goal they’ve never obtained before. That’s what I live for.”
The Wildcats went 3-7 last season after a 2-0 start but return the majority of their starters on both sides of the ball. It will be up to Bilderback to guide them back to the top of 8-3A.
Pictured Above: Chip Bilderback addresses the crowd during his introductory press conference. | Photo by Mark Rogers
