ECCC welcomes Jonathan Webster as new head football coach

East Central Community College has named Jonathan Webster its new head football coach.

Webster, now the 22nd head coach of the Warrior football program, is replacing Ken Karcher, who served in the role for 10 seasons before announcing his retirement in October.

With more than 16 years of experience as both a student-athlete and coach in the league, Webster has made himself a familiar name in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC).

“Coach Webster is exactly what we are looking for at East Central,” ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory said. “His energy, excitement, recruiting ability, and knowledge of this league are unmatched. We expect Jonathan to directly fit into the culture of success and community that we are building, and we are very excited to have him and his family join us in Decatur.”

Webster’s coaching resume presents impressive feats, such as being defensive backs coach at Northwest Community College in 2015 when the Rangers won both the MACCC conference and NJCAA national championships.

Along with his experience in the college ranks, Webster has spent numerous months in the professional football world through internships, including stops with the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Webster’s duties included assisting with game preparation and working with defensive backs, linebackers, and special teams.

As a player, the South Panola High School graduate was a standout student-athlete. He played at both Northwest Mississippi Community College and Arkansas Tech University. During his tenure with the Rangers, NWCC went 15-4 and was nationally ranked in the NJCAA both seasons. He earned Northwest’s most valuable defensive player honors as a sophomore and helped lead the Rangers to a MACCC North Division championship during his freshman season.

“My family and I are extremely excited about the opportunity to have an impact on the young men at East Central and in the surrounding community,” Webster said. “It is a blessing to be in this role, and I do not take it for granted, but I am ready to get to work and bring some excitement to the East Central football program. I would like to thank the East Central Board of Trustees, Dr. Gregory, and Mr. Nixon for affording me this opportunity and trusting me in this position.”