Accomplished championship football coach & athletic director at Hancock High in Kiln. Coach Irvin Favre was born in Gulfport where he played football at Gulfport High and Perkinston Junior College and received his college degree at Southern Miss in 1967. He began his 29-year coaching career as an assistant at Long Beach from 1967-69 and as a head coach at St. John in Gulfport from 1969-71 before his arrival at Hancock where he coached for 23 seasons from 1971 to 1994. He guided St. John to 1970 state football title and Hancock to four bowl games, two district titles, and four playoff appearances. His gridiron teams compiled a record of 125-95. Irvin was named baseball coach of the year at St. John in 1970 and 1989 football coach of the year while at Hancock. He was a longtime MAC member from 1967 to 1994. ”Big Irv” coached the professional indoor Mississippi Firedogs team from 1999 to 2002 and led the Biloxi squad to two NIFL championships in 2000 and 2001.His community service included the St. Paul Carnival Association and the St. Williams Catholic Church.