SO SAD: Sumrall Shannon Announce a Devastating News-..

Sumrall football’s Shannon White retires after 40-year coaching career, 2 MHSAA titles at Taylorsville

Sumrall football coach Shannon White has announced his retirement.

White, who coached at Sumrall for 14 years, announced Tuesday he was finished with his coaching career, ending a 40-year tenure.

“Sumrall is special. Academics, arts and athletics are first class,” White told the Clarion Ledger. “Community is super supportive. The football program has improved tremendously, but it’s time for a new voice and vision. I’m excited to see where it’ll be in a few years. Community is booming, and a new high school is being built, so I think it’s a prime spot.”

Sumrall ended its 2024 season 1-9 with a 28-21 loss to Lanier in the first round of the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs. Sumrall will move up to MHSAA Class 5A in the 2025-26 school year after the MHSAA’s recent reclassifications.

White, 62, has been at Sumrall since 2011. He landed his first head coaching job at West Lauderdale in 1989. He had other stints at Taylorsville and North Forest. He won MHSAA state titles with Taylorsville in 1998 and 2002.

“It’s been a great 40 years (in coaching),” he said. “Absolutely loved every job I had and every year, Would do it again.”

He had a 61-96 record at Sumrall, including a 3-9 record in the playoffs. In 2020 White took Sumrall to the third round, which was farther than any team had gone since 1988. White ends his coaching career with a 175-148 record and a 26-19 record in the playoffs.