Trenell Edwards enters his fifth season as Northwest’s defensive backs coach, quickly developing his players into one of the top units in the state.
Under Edwards’ direction, the Rangers have picked off 60 passes the past four seasons, compared to just 25 the previous three before his arrival in 2008. The Rangers have ranked in the Top 2 in the league in interceptions two of the last three seasons, picking off 15 passes in 2010 (T1st) and 21 in 2009 (2nd).
Five of Edwards’ former players, La’Darrick Anderson, Brandon Lawrence, Michael McKinney, Bud Barksdale and V.J. Street, have earned MACJC All-State honors under his watch, with Barksdale a two-time first team nod. Lawrence and Barksdale also earned NJCAA All-Region XXIII recognition.
Edwards came to the Rangers from Durant High School, where he was a first-time head coach during the 2007 season and led the Tigers to an 11-2 record and the second round of the MHSAA playoffs.
Prior to one season at Durant, Edwards also gained coaching experience as an assistant under current Northwest head coach Ricky Woods at national powerhouse South Panola. From 2002-06, the Tigers were a perfect 60-0 and claimed four consecutive Class 5A State Championships.
Other stints for Edwards were as an assistant coach at Louisville High School in 2001 (running backs/wide receivers), Philadelphia HS in 2000 (defensive coordinator/wide receivers) and Wayne County HS from 1997-99 (wide receivers).
He took his first collegiate coaching job at Samford University, coaching tight ends during the 1995-96 seasons and helping the Bulldogs to a 13-9 mark. Two years earlier, Edwards’ first coaching stint was at Cherokee HS (Ala.) in 1994.
Edwards earned his bachelor’s in education from Mississippi State University in 1992, where he also lettered four years at tight end and linebacker for the Bulldogs and was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 1987. Edwards helped lead MSU to the 1991 Liberty Bowl (L, 38-15 to Air Force), catching a 4-yard pass from Sleepy Robinson for the Bulldogs’ first score. He received numerous football honors during his college career playing for legendary coaches Rockey Felker and Jackie Sherrill.
Edwards is married to the former Eunice Morgan of Philadelphia. They have four sons, Jahan (26), Joshua (25), Justin (17) and Johnathan (14), two daughters, Janiya (11) and Jayla (6), and a grandson Joshua Jr. (2).
