BROOKHAVEN — Franklin County native Casey Edwards was introduced Friday as the new head baseball coach at Brookhaven Academy.

Edwards met with players and staff at the school following the resignation of former Brookhaven coach Stephen Cooksey, who has taken the head coaching job at Oak Forest Academy in Amite, La.

Edwards comes to Brookhaven after serving four years as an assistant baseball coach at Clinton.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Edwards said. “It’s a great school and a good program. I’m just ready to get started.”

Cooksey served six years as head baseball coach at Brookhaven Academy. The Cougars reached the playoffs in five of his six seasons and went a combined 75-27 in the last four seasons. Brookhaven was 12-10 this season before falling to Copiah Academy in the first round. of the MPSA Class AA South State Playoffs

“It’s an opportunity for me to move up a level from AA to AAA in Academy ball,” Cooksey said about his transition. “It’s been a memorable time here. I know the school is getting a good coach in Edwards and that assistant coach Robert Young will stand by him and continue to help the team as well.”

Young, who served two seasons under Cooksey, will stay on as assistant baseball coach under Edwards

Edwards, a 1995 Franklin County graduate, played baseball at Co-Lin and Mississippi College. He has coached in Gulfport and Clinton the last five seasons.

“The facilities here are great, and I’m getting to know a lot of people I didn’t know before,” Edwards said. “I just can’t wait to get started.”

Brookhaven Academy interim headmaster Herbert Davis said Edwards will keep the Cougars’ baseball program moving in the right direction.

“We are happy to have him,” Davis said. “He brings a lot of enthusiasm. He could be a 5A head coach anywhere, and he knows what it takes to be a champion.”