Breland’s career about more than wins, losses

A Yellow Jacket legend is retiring after 19 seasons as head coach of the Union High School football team.

Coach Brad Breland announced his retirement effective at the end of this school year. Breland led his alma mater to three regional championships in 2002, 2011, and 2012.

He has served as the school’s athletic director since 2003. He led Union to 11 wins in 2011, the most by any Yellow Jacket team in school history. Breland also played football at Union and stood out as an offensive lineman and placekicker, graduating in 1986.

Breland started out as an assistant coach at Madison Central from 1992 to 1996. He next coached two years at Pearl and spent one season at Noxapater before returning to his hometown as the head football coach.

He was a part of two Mississippi-Alabama All Star game victories, his first in 2015, with his brother Jeff as the head coach. In 2019, Breland led the Mississippi All Stars to a 17-16 overtime victory as the head coach. He coached his two sons, Dalton and Conner, during his Union years, which were big moments that he will never forget.

The long tenured coach recently addressed his retirement in an interview for this column.

“I prayed over it and decided that it was time to move on in a different path. I want to thank the Union community for all the kindness and support through my 19 years as the UHS football coach. I’ll miss all the kids I’ve worked with and taught to not only be better players, but better men in life as well. I don’t know what the next chapter is in my life, I’ll do something. I can’t just sit at home and not do anything.”

Breland’s tenure is about much more than wins and losses, and I would like to end this interview with two personal thoughts - My Mother said that when my Dad was working with Coach Breland at Union High School he told her that Coach Breland was consistently prepared, and determined to make a difference in the lives of the kids he coached.

Lastly, Coach Breland said to me, “Ben, some of the happiest times of my career were coaching with your father.”

My Dad was right, Coach Breland was always about making a difference. He made a difference in my life during the interview when he shared kind words about my Father.

Coach Brad Breland will continue to consistently make a difference and who ever crosses his path will be the better for it.

Thanks for the memories Coach Breland!