Todd Breland tabbed to lead W.A. football

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

Todd Breland has been named as the new Head Football Coach at Wayne

Academy.

Breland brings a storied coaching history with him to the new position,

including winning four state championships --- three as an assistant and

one as the head coach at Laurel High School. He began his career at

Laurel High School, then moved to Wayne County High School before moving

back to Laurel as an assistant, then moving to Northeast Jones taking

over as head coach at Laurel High School, where he won a state title in

2014. He finished his public school career with South Jones, retiring in

December.

Breland said he realized quickly that he needed to get back into

coaching.

"I don't think I ever got out of it mentally," he said. "This spring, I

attended some spring football practices and while I was watching I felt

my heart racing. Then Dusty (Hillman, the W.A. head baseball coach)

called me and things moved quickly. Roughly a week after that phone

call, here I am."

Breland joins a wide array of coaches who have retired from the public

school realm into the private school arena.

"I've reached out to some of my friends in the MAIS and talked about

things," he said. "At the end of the day, though, football is football.

Right now, I just need to get organized. Heck, I'm still getting lost in

the field house right now."

The new head coach said the goals for his program will be simple.

"Our No. 1 goal will be to teach life lessons and give young men an

experience they will enjoy," he said. "They only have one shot at

competing in high school sports, and I am going to do all I can to

protect them and give them that opportunity to compete."

Known for his offensive acumen, Breland said fans can expect to see many

of the same formations he has been known for over the years.

"We will line up in multiple spread formations," he said. "People talk

about the spread but it's really all about formations rather than a

spread offense actually existing. It's more of a mental thing and making

sure you're doing the right things every play.

"Defensively, I'm going to look at film on our opponents and see what

they are doing offensively and then go from there. We've got a lot of

work to do in a short amount of time."

Breland said he expects to instill the same philosophies at Wayne

Academy that have made his successful throughout his career.

"We're going to compete," he said. "We are going to teach our kids to do

the little things right. When you do the little things right on a daily

basis, the wins will come. Doing the little things right will be a big

focus for us."