ROLLING FORK &045; The carrot was dangled out in front of then-29-year-old Cori Britt.

But a head football coaching job following the 2003 season when Britt served as an assistant at Huntington, didn’t seem right to the Natchez native, who left the Miss-Lou in the seventh grade and completed high school in Texas.

However, a change of scenery to Adams Christian and a year’s worth of wisdom has molded Britt , 30, into the type of coaching material he has worked steadfastly to become.

That’s why when Mississippi Private School Association Class A Sharkey Issaquena came calling, Britt thought it was the perfect fit, prompting to vacate his assistant position at AC for the Delta-based school.

&uot;It’s a good school with a lot of athletes,&uot; said Britt, who has some anxieties leaving the friendly confines of Natchez, where both his parents and grandparents still live. &uot;I’ve got a chance to come in and be successful right away. It’s not a situation where we’re rebuilding.&uot;

The Confederates were a respectable 7-3, including 4-2 in a fairly tough District 5-A, last year under Paul Kirchharr, who left to take over the coaching duties at Amite School Center in Liberty.

Britt said he is undeterred by the program’s historical lackluster sports label, hoping to instill a new attitude throughout the entire school.

&uot;We have big goals. I asked the kids what their goals were and they said they wanted to reach the playoffs,&uot; Britt said. &uot;Now it’s a matter of getting there. I’m going to have to work twice as hard. There’ll be a lot of late nights.

&uot;I have that (Texas football) mentality in my blood. I want to create a program where the little guys in elementary school look up to the high school guys. I think this can be long term.&uot;

Sharkey Issaquena Headmaster Linda Sherwood Dick sung the praises of Britt Wednesday, boasting of his accomplishments on and off the playing field.

AC Headmaster John R. Gray said it was bittersweet to let Britt go, but added Britt is ready to take the enxt step.

&uot;It’s a big promotion for him. We had enough to handle everything,&uot; Gray said addressing in possible vacancies. &uot;He was only a high school football coach and helped me in basketball. I was going to move him to basketball if he wouldn’t have run off.&uot;

Britt started as an assistant coach at Huntington in 2000 and spent three years there, also working with the boys’ basketball team and serving as a head coach for track before coming over to AC last fall.

Britt helped Rebels head coach Keith Walters’ staff, as well as Gray’s basketball team and Bill Richardson’s track program.

&uot;I had a great year. I enjoyed everybody that I worked with,&uot; said Britt, who turned down a head coaching position with Lee, Ark., Academy last year. &uot;It was probably the best year of my coaching career. It was a real fun, professional environment.&uot;

Britt said he passed on the position at Lee because he felt some trepidation walking into a situation he did not feel mentally prepared for.

His one and only year at AC served as an impromptu final exam and was a testament that he had what it took to accept a program’s reins.

&uot;Every time I get up I think of the opportunity I have,&uot; Britt said, &uot;and what it’s going to be like the first time we step on the field versus Humphrey’s Academy. It gives me chills. It’s something I wanted to do since I coached junior high football at Huntington.&uot;

With Kirchharr leaving the cupboard plenty full, Britt hopes the growing pains most first-year coaches experience will be minimal.

Whereas Kirchharr ran a traditional option offense, Britt has ideas to throw the ball in multiple sets behind a power-running attack.

&uot;It’s not gonna be easy by any means. For a lot of the guys it’ll be a lot of learning the fundamentals &045; the details,&uot; Britt said.

&uot;We won’t be predictable. We’ll use multiple sets, which will put a little stress on them during two-a-days, because they’re not used to. We want our team focused on sound defense because I think that can only make your offense better.&uot;