LBHS Coaches

a month ago

Shane Rutledge

Athletic Director/Transportation Director

 Shane Rutledge is a 1991 graduate of Long Beach High School. After high school he attended William Carey where he was fortunate to play baseball under head coach Bobby Halford. Coach Rutledge's first opportunity to work in education came at Harrison Central High School in the late 1990s. There he taught chemistry and coached baseball with the legendary Pat Olmi. 

He also coached football during his time at HCHS. In 2009 He would be reunited with his former high school coach Mark Ross when Rutledge began serving as an assistant coach at LBHS. He would become head baseball coach upon Ross's retirement just a few years later. In 2019 Rutledge would step away from Coaching to take on a new role in school administration.    Shane Rutledge is married to Cassie (Smith) Rutledge of Necaise Crossing.Cassie is the administrative assistant for LBSD student services. They have two children, Leslie and Ben.

Codey Finley

LBHS Head Football Coach:





codey.finley@lbsdk12.com

Benji Foreman

Assistant Coach: Defensive Coordinator Freshman/JV Head Coach




Benjamin.Foreman@lbsdk12.com

Horace Fortenberry

LBHS Football Assistant: Defensive Line

Jamie Arms

Assistant Football Coach: 

QB's/Running Backs




jamie.arms@lbsdk12.com

Max Crawford

Assistant Football Coach:
Wide Receivers





Brandy Zink

LBHS Cheer Coach

I started my Bearcat cheer career when I moved to Long Beach in the 3rd grade and became a "pee wee" Bearcat cheerleader. I then cheered at LBMS and LBHS. In 2005 I returned to LBMS but  as a coach. In 2015 I transferred to  LBHS and took over the high school squad. I believe that cheerleaders are often thought of as "filler" or "lagniappe", but I can attest to the blood, sweat, and tears that go into being a game day squad who can also compete at the state and national level while amassing a minimum of 20 hours of community service a year. I know that they make it look easy, but that doesn't mean it is!

brandy.zink@lbsdk12.com

Kevin Hunt

LBHS Boys Basketball Head Coach

Kevin Hunt enters his first year as Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Long Beach High School. Hunt comes to Long Beach with over 20 years of experience coaching in the states of Louisiana and Arkansas. Coach Hunt is a 3 time district
Coach of the year in Arkansas and has two State runner up trophies on his resume.
One as the Head boys coach and one as the assistant coach.

Hunt played at Arkansas State university from 1995 - 1997 before he
transferred to Henderson State University where he finished his collegiate playing
career. While at Henderson Hunt helped lead his team to back to back Gulf South
regular season and tournament Championships.
Hunt began his coaching career at Holly Grove High school where he led his
team to a conference and regional championship. Holly Grove closed after that
season and Hunt took the reins at Altheimer High School in Arkansas where the
team was ranked number one in class AA and lost in the final four and ended the
season with a 25 - 2 record. Hunt was named 6AA coach of the year and was
nominated to coach in the all star game. The following year Hunt led Altheimer to
a State runner up finish and was once again named Coach of the Year.

Hunt moved to Louisiana to help start the charter school Miller McCoy Academy in New Orleans, LA and decided to stay. Coach Hunt led West Jefferson High to the sweet 16 in class 5A in 2019. During his tenure coaching, Hunt has
only missed the playoffs 3 times.

Coach Hunt is married to Nicole Hunt and has one son, Kevin HuntJr. and four
step children. Chelsi, Ashtin, Austin, and Aron.

kevin.hunt@lbsdk12.com

Jermille Fluker

Interim LBHS  Girls Basketball Coach




Jermille.Fluker@lbsdk12.com

Rebecca Tillman

Head Coach: Volleyball, Softball

Coach Rebecca Tillman has coached middle school girls and boys basketball, helpedestablish the middle school softball conference on the coast, and currently serve as theHead Coach for the high school softball and volleyball teams.Coach Tillman has over 18 years of experience coaching the Lady Bearcat Teams. Shehas led these teams to five State Championship appearances, as well as winningnumerous District and South State Championships.While attending MGCCC, Tillman played basketball and softball where she received theAll Conference Award two years in a row. She continued her education at theUniversity of Southern Mississippi and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. In 2007,she graduated from William Carey College with a Masters in Education.Rebecca Tillman is married to Donald Tillman Jr. from Long Beach, MS. Together they have twosons,Colton and Brendon Tillman, and two daughters, Payton and Jordon Tillman.

rebecca.tillman@lbsdk12.com

Melanie Hymel

LBHS Bowling Head Coach

LBHS Volleyball Assistant Coach


Melanie Hymel is in her 19th year of coaching and teaching, currently serving as a Special Education Teacher at Harper McCaughan Elementary and as Long Beach High School’s Head Bowling Coach and Assistant Volleyball Coach. 

Coach Hymel started the bowling program at LBHS 6 years ago. The girls and boys’ bowling teams have each made state appearances over the course of the first four years of the program, with the LBHS Girls’ Bowling Team earning their first ever State Championship during the 2021-22 season. 

For the last 12 years, Coach Hymel has also served as the JV Volleyball and Varsity Assistant Coach, with recent varsity teams making annual playoff appearances and making it as far as South State in 2019 and 2020. 

Andee Wilburn

LBHS Girls Soccer Coach

Athletic Compliance Officer 

Coach Wilburn is entering his 22 nd year of teaching and coaching. Throughout those 22 years hehas coached Middle School and High School soccer, track and football. He spent his first 12years of coaching in Desoto County schools and has been coaching on the coast for the last 10years. During those years he has been part of many District, Regional, North Half, South Halfand State Championships in soccer, track and football. 

andee.wilburn@lbsdk12.com

Erik Johnson

LBHS Boys Soccer Assistant Coach


Garrett Larosa

LBHS Baseball Coach


Before coaching at LBHS, I graduated in 2012 from LBHS and went on to finish my playing career at Meridian Community College and McNeese State University. I also attended Mississippi State where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Economics. This is my eighth year of coaching varsity baseball, and third year as Head of the Baseball program here at LBHS.

Donald.Larosa@lbsdk12.com

Ryan Davis

LBHS Baseball Assistant Coach

I graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Performance Recreation and a minor in history.  I have been a part of the baseball staff at Long Beach since 2010 and have served as pitching coach for the high school since 2013.

ryan.davis@lbsdk12.com

Justin Powell

LBHS Baseball Assistant Coach
LBHS Girls Cross Country Coach

I graduated from Long Beach High School in 2013, then continued my playing career at Coahoma Community College.  After attending Coahoma, I attended the University of South Alabama where I obtained my bachelors degree in History and Secondary Education.  I have been teaching and coaching at LBHS since 2018.

Shawn Hicks

LBHS Girls Golf Head Coach

Head Golf Coach LBHS, Assistant Track Coach LBHS, and Assistant Basketball Coach LBMS. 

Coach Hicks brings a wealth of experience and a passion for developing young athletes.  With over 25 years of coaching experience, including Golf, Football, Basketball, Track and Bowling, he has a proven track record of success in building strong teams and fostering a positive team environment.  Long Beach HS Girls Golf has two State Championships in 2021 and 2022, three District Championships 2021, 2022, 2023 and top 10 State finalists the last four years.  LBHS Boys earned District Championship Runner up 2024.  Long Beach MS Basketball earned District Championship 2024.  Coach Hicks believes in a student-athlete-centered approach, emphasizing not only Golf, Basketball, or Track skills and knowledge but also character development, sportsmanship, and academic success. His coaching philosophy focuses on instilling discipline, teamwork, and a strong work ethic in his players. He is committed to creating a fun, challenging, and engaging environment where players can thrive both on and off the field.


shawn.hicks@lbsdk12.com

Leslie Rigby

LBHS Dance Coach

I have been a dance choreographer and coach for over 20 years. In addition to coaching the award-winning Bearcat Belles here at LBHS, I teach dance at Kelli’s Steps School of Dance in Biloxi. My dance credentials include former Universal Dance Association head instructor, former captain of the Mississippi State University Pom Squad, and training at Dance Educators of America.

leslie.rigby@lbsdk12.com

Mina Whitmer

LBHS Swim Team Coach

I grew up in Texas and after receiving my Doctor of Chiropractic degree with a specialization in Pediatric Chiropractic in 2001, moved to the coast with my husband.  I began coaching swim in 2002 and would continue to coach off and on over the next 20 years. I competed in swimming for 10 years as a youth and went back to competing as an adult in 2016.  I began competing in triathlons in 2019. I have multiple coaching certificates that include not only swimming, but nutrition and triathlon.  This is my 5th year coaching Long Beach swim team.

docwhitmer@me.com

Ashley Harvey

Assistant High School Girls Soccer Coach

LBMS Girls Soccer Head Coach

Andrew Hermann 

LBHS Powerlifting Coach
Girls & Boys





andrew.herman@lbsdk12.com

Thomas Hanes

LBHS Cross Country
LBHS Assistant Track & Field

Coach Hanes is a head coach for Long Beach Cross Country, and an assistant coach for Long Beach Track and Field, working primarily with long distance runners.  Coach Hanes has seventeen years of experience, with the last three years as a Bearcat.  Coach Hanes ran for Mississippi State University cross country and track teams, won two high school state championships in the 3200, and has head coached numerous regional championship teams. 

thomas.hanes@lbsdk12.com

Courtney Ulrich

LBHS Tennis Head Coach

Courtney Ulrich has been actively involved in tennis for over 30 years.   A USPTA
certified instructor, Courtney continues to play competitively and serves in a variety of
roles in the tennis community at both local and state levels.  
Courtney is a lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast where she attended
St. John High School.  She accepted a tennis scholarship from the University of
Southern Mississippi and competed at the collegiate level for 4 years.  
She was the Head Tennis Coach for Gulfport High School for 11 years prior to
joining the Bearcat family and she has coached numerous junior teams on the National,
Sectional, and State level to include National/Zonals, Southern Junior Cup and
Southern Cup.
Other tennis experience includes working as an Assistant Pro at the East Hampton
Tennis Club, Assistant Pro at Treasure Oaks Country Club in Ocean Springs and
currently working as an Assistant Pro at Bayou Bluff Tennis Club in Gulfport.
The Mississippi High School Coaches Association selected Courtney as the 2014 All-
Star High School Tennis Coach of the Year.
Courtney is entering her 2 nd year as the Head Tennis Coach. She enjoys to travel and
spend time with her family and pups. She resides in Gulfport.

courtney.ulrich@lbsdk12.com

Andrew Hermann

LBHS Powerlifting Girls/Boys

This ís my 7th year at LBSD, I was a Special Education teacher for 6 years. During that time I Coached Middle School Football and Varsity Softball. This year I am teaching Biology and taking over the Powerlifting teams from coaches who moved on to different schools. I look forward to  leading our power lifting team and working with the athletes to help them reach their goals.

andrew.hermann@lbsdk12.com

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