Coach Neil Hitchcock was an acclaimed championship football coach at Philadelphia, Mendenhall, and Grenada High Schools, Coach Hitchcock was a native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, who graduated from John Rundle High in Grenada. Neil was an All Conference high school football player who led his team to a state title and served as the State President of the FFA. His distinguished three decade plus coaching and teaching career began in 1975 after graduation from Delta State where he was an All Conference, All State, and Academic All American football star. Coach Hitchcock coached junior high football at Kosciusko Junior High and Lillie Burney Junior High in Hattiesburg from 1975 to 1979. He then coached the Philadelphia High football program from 1979 to 1986 as an assistant and head coach, where he guided the Tornados to Class 2A district, North State, and state runner-up finish in 1985. Neil led the Mendenhall Tigers from 1986 to 1990 and paced the Tigers to 3 District crowns, 3 South State titles, a state runner-up finish in 1986 and back-to-back state championships in 1987 and 1988. His 1988 Mendenhall squad was the first 15-0 team in Mississippi high school history. He moved on to coach at Grenada High from 1990 to 2001, leading the Chargers to the 1991 Chickasaw Conference title, a 1992 Grenada Lake Bowl win and class 4A district titles in 1993 & 1994, and helped Grenada appear in the Class 5A state playoffs in 1995, 1996, and 1997. He served as an assistant coach at Madison Central from 2001 to 2004, Pelahatchie from 2006 to 2007, and at McLaurin from 2007 to present. Overall, his gridiron teams compiled a record of 128 wins and 76 losses with 4 district crowns, 4 North or South state titles, 2 state runner-up finishes, and two state championships. He is a five time District Coach of the Year, was selected as area coach of the year by the Meridian Star in 1985, and MAC football Coach of the Year in 1988. Neil served as an All-Star coach in the Bernard Blackwell Classic in 1986 and 1988 and was also honored as an assistant, head coach, and administrative coach in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Football game. His longtime service to the MAC includes serving on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and as Vice President and President.