Greening steps away as Northeast football coach

Northeast football coach Andy Greening resigned Wednesday to pursue other options outside the state of Mississippi.
Greening, who has been part of the NEMCC football staff for 10 years, served as head football coach since 2003.

“This was a tough decision,” said Greening. “I love Northeast. I went to school here, played ball here, and coached here for ten years. It’s a bitter-sweet deal because I’m looking forward to retirement here in Mississippi, and towards new challenges.”
Greening promoted the Northeast football program to new heights during the 2005 season. After Hurricane Katrina shortened the season to seven games, Greening’s Tigers responded and ran the table during the regular season and posted a 7-0 mark and were ranked as high as number two in the country. The NEMCC alum also led the Tiger football team to its first-ever bowl appearance in 2005 competing against Trinity Valley (Texas) in the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl Classic in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
The program’s turnaround came two years after Greening picked up the reins from Bobby Hall and seven years into his tenure at Northeast.

“Andy has been a major part of the great success our football program has experienced in the last decade,” said NEMCC athletic director Ricky Ford. “Personally and professionally, I am sad to see him go. I respect him not only as a co-worker but as a friend. I wish him the best and think it is a good move for him.”
Greening moves on to the plains of the University of West Alabama where he will be defensive coordinator for the Tigers. The MississippiStateUniversity alum served as defensive coordinator for Northeast under Laurin Collins and Bobby Hall before taking over the program in 2003.
UWA has Mississippi flair to its 2008 coaching staff.
FormerAmoryHigh School standouts Will Hall and Sam Gregg have already joined the offensive staff at UWA while Laurel’s Desmond Lindsey was the third coaching pickup for Bobby Wallace’s staff earlier this year.

Greening left his mark on the Northeast football program compiling a 19-18 mark while capturing a pair of Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges North Division titles in 2004 and 2005. Greening was also part of the North Division championship squad that took home the title in 2002.
During the 2005 season, Greening’s squad placed both offensive and defensive units in the Top 20 in the country and 17 Tigers were able to ink with four-year schools following the season.

Three former Tigers off Greening’s 2005 season recently signed with the National Football League as free agents. Quarterback Bruce Hall, defensive end Chris Bradwell and defensive back Justin Sanders all joined the NFL ranks with the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, respectively.
Greening, a Corinth native, guided the Tigers to a pair of victories during the 2007 season after finishing fourth in the North Division during the 2006 campaign.
Before coming to Northeast, Greening guided a pair of teams to the North Half finals in the high school ranks.

The Corinth native carried the Booneville High School Blue Devils to the Division 1-2A playoffs in 1988 before reaching the Class 2A North Half finals in 1989. Greening continued his success at AmoryHigh School where he took the Panthers to the Division 1-3A title and the North Half finals a year later.
Before taking over the role as defensive coordinator at NEMCC in 1998, Greening guided the Alcorn Central Golden Bears from 1993-1997.

Northeast Athletic Director Ricky Ford has already started looking for Greening’s replacement and hopes to have a new coach on the NEMCC campus soon.
"There are three things I'm looking for," Ford said. "First, a good person with great morals. Second, someone that will come in and be loyal to the school. And third, someone with the same vision I have, which is to work hard and take the program to the next level."

Greening attended Northeast and played football for the Bill Ward before moving onto MississippiStateUniversity where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education. He earned a master’s degree from MSU in 1984 and became certified to work as a school administrator in 1992.
Greening and his wife Rhonda have one daughter, Callie.