A familiar name will be in the dugout when the Resurrection Catholic School Eagles hit the diamond for the 2025 baseball season.
Ryan Jordan has taken over the reins as head coach for Aron Frederick, who stepped down after last season.
For Jordan, who starred as a left-handed pitcher at Pascagoula High School and William Carey College, it is his second stint as head coach at RCS, having held the job in 2007.
Jordan has big shoes to fill. The Eagles won two Class 1A state championships in three years, one under Johnny Olsen, whom Jordan played for at PHS, and the other under Frederick, who took the helm after Lee Tingle passed away in December 2022 from a rare illness.
“Resurrection has had great leadership, and I’m privileged and honored to be a part of that,’’ Jordan said. “I want to build upon what Lee, Johnny and Aron have built here.
“Hopefully, I can leave a small mark.’’
Keeping the Tingle name at the forefront of the program is important to Jordan. Tingle was instrumental in getting RCS to a dominant place in Class 1A. His death shook the school and community. He is honored with his retired jersey hanging at the Eagles field that is named after him.
“Lee will always have a special place in my heart because I was able to coach his oldest son, Ty, in middle school when Resurrection was really starting to gain some momentum,’’ Jordan said.
“To see what the program has become today is a testament to all the hard work he put in. Lee is always with us, and I appreciate everything the Tingle family does for RCS.’’
Jordan’s interest in the job happened when he was kidded about applying for it by RCS head football coach Eric Denmark and Dean of Student Services, Scott Sisson. But before interviewing, Jordan had to consider juggling coaching with his full-time job working for his dad Steve’s Turf Masters business.
He talked to his dad, who said, “OK, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your job here.’’
RCS principal Krystal Sisson offered the same advice. Jordan took the job and hasn’t looked back.
A bonus for Jordan is the opportunity to coach his brother John’s son, Porter, who is a sophomore pitcher-second baseman.
“He’s the only nephew I haven’t gotten to coach, and I look forward to that,’’ Jordan said.
Jordan has two sons he hopes to coach one day: Jake, a seventh-grader, and Liam, a fifth-grader.
RCS will be young in 2025 as evidenced by the number of plate appearances for returning players. Of almost 1,000 at-bats season, veteran players had only 100, and 75 of those were by Phillip Lachaussee.
The Eagles have had a few workouts, and Jordan sees talent among his inexperienced team.
His goal for the season is simple: “Playing for a South State title.’’
The biggest challenge Jordan sees is developing the players’ confidence.
“The talent is there,” he said. “We have to make sure they are prepared mentally to handle the challenge.’’
Players Jordan looks to be key to the team are Lauchessee, Andrew Harbin, Wyatt Schnoor, Joseph Foster and Quinn Inabinette.
“There is some up-and-coming young talent that I’m impressed with,’’ Jordan said. “We have a young sophomore group that is eager to see a lot of innings. I’m excited to grow that group and continue to build on what we already have.’’
Jordan isn’t the only family member to jump into the coaching ranks. His wife, Kelly, is the head coach for the RCS girls volleyball team. She also has a full-time job. They have a daughter, Millie, on the volleyball team.
Jordan knows there will be days when they pass each other on the way to and from games.
“It’s going to be very busy, and we embrace it,’’ he said. “We love to give back to student-athletes. It is the hardest time in the world to be a student-athlete with all the distractions and social media. Being an athlete provides its own set of challenges.
“We are excited to be a part of these young kids’ lives and be able to help grow them mentally, physically and spiritually. Our heart has always been in sports. We lean on each other and love each other. We have a strong faith in God.’’
