Kenneth Dorsey named new head football coach at Sophie B. Wright

Sophie B. Wright has a new head football coach and a good one with a promising future.

Former St. Augustine Interim head coach Kenneth Dorsey has been named head coach of the Warriors, replacing Dennis Christopher, who is departing the program after three years on the job.

Sophie B. Wright athletic director Jason Bertrand is thrilled to have Dorsey.

“We loved his organization and clear vision for what he is trying to do,” Bertrand said. “He has a really good pedigree. He was a great assistant and Interim head coach at St. Augustine. He was a coordinator for Wayne Reese Jr. at Booker T. Washington. We had a ton of applicants. He is a humble gentleman. Sometimes, you know you’ve got your man when he walks in the door. He has a clear vision. He will take us to new heights.”

In his three seasons, Christopher led Sophie B. Wright to a district championship in his first season (2018) and led the Warriors to the playoffs.

Things were much tougher in 2019 as Sophie B. Wright fell to 1-9 and the Warriors were winless (0-8) in 2020.

Dorsey is in his seventh year coaching.

Dorsey coached at Independence Middle School in 2012 before working at Amite from 2013-14. He went to St. Augustine in 2015, coaching five years with the Purple Knights before spending last season at Booker T. Washington.

In 2019, Dorsey took over St. Augustine in midseason and took the Purple Knights to the Division I playoffs, losing in the final minute to eventual state champion Archbishop Rummel 35-34 in the quarterfinals.

A New Orleans native, Dorsey attended John Curtis Christian through 10th grade but graduated from Homewood High in Alabama, just outside of Birmingham, where he transferred to after Hurricane Katrina. He went on to play at ULM, where he was a fine defensive end from 2007-11.

“Being at Booker T. last year, we played against them this past season and they fight hard and have talent in the building,” Dorsey said. “I like Ms. (Sharon) Clark and the leadership of the school and the discipline. The location is in the hub of a lot of talent uptown. To get guys in there to teach them to be men in society attracted me to it.”

Dorsey is greatly appreciative of the opportunity he had at St. Augustine to run a program and feels it has prepared him well, along with his experience under Wayne Reese Jr. at Booker T. Washington.

“The beauty of being in charge at St. Aug is that I worked with Al Jones and Nate Jones and they allowed the staff to be part of the process of what head coaches do daily,” Dorsey said. “Those things helped. Being under Coach Reese helped. He’s a great guy, a beautiful character, and he allowed me to observe and learn so much.”

Dorsey has a definite philosophy he will bring with him to Sophie B. Wright.

“I want to observe the talent more closely to determine what we will run offensively and defensively. You want the scheme to fit the kids, not the kids to fit the scheme. We will adjust and prepare accordingly. We will have discipline and accountability and put our young men in the best position to succeed.”

Bertrand acknowledges the positive response he has received about the hire.

“We’re really excited,” Bertrand said. “We have heard nothing but glowing comments about Kenneth and we are very, very happy to have him.”