The summer of 2006 at Warren Central may become better known as the Summer of Change.

Thanks to a series of departures, resignations and job changes, the school has had to fill 10 coaching positions this summer, including four head coaching jobs.

Almost every sport on the menu has been affected, but Vicksburg Warren athletic director Lum Wright Jr. said all of the jobs should be filled after the next school board meeting on June 29. All of the vacancies have been filled, but none of the hires are official until they have been approved by the board.

&#8220We’ve been fortunate,” Wright said, adding that it wasn’t uncommon to fill a few positions &#8220Every year. It doesn’t change. But we’ve done a good job filling those spots.”

Even in a profession where moving is a way of life, this summer has been a busy one at Warren Central. The departure of one coach opened up several vacancies in some cases.

The highest-profile change came when Jay Harrison, WC’s boys soccer coach since 1999, left to take over Madison Central’s program in late May.

Assistant football coach Brian Oakes started the exodus in May when he left to take the head coach’s job at Stone County. Fellow WC assistant B.J. Smithhart later followed Oakes to Wiggins.

Another assistant football coach, Jeff Wood, then left to become the head baseball coach at Alcorn Central. Wood also was an assistant baseball coach.

&#8220We’re raising too many good ones,” Wright said with a laugh. &#8220At Warren Central they’ve had a few who have been able to move up as head coaches.”

Andrea Fairchild, the school’s track and swimming coach since 1998, later resigned her coaching duties. She is still at the school in a teaching position.

&#8220I’ve put in eight years, and with the two sports I had, they were year-round. I wanted to take some time off and do some personal things,” Fairchild said. &#8220Right now I’m looking forward to being a full-time teacher and having time to do things on the weekends.”

Fast-pitch softball coach Chris Perritt also stepped back from the coaching ranks to become an assistant principal at WC. In addition to softball, Perritt was an assistant boys’ basketball coach, creating another vacancy.

The slew of changes comes as WC is shuffling its administration for the first time since 1995. Principal Mack Douglas retired after 10 years in charge of the school.

Fairchild said the timing of the moves with the arrival of a new principal was simply a coincidence, though.

&#8220It seemed to be a year where there were just a lot of better opportunities elsewhere, and you can’t fault teachers or coaches for looking for the best opportunities for their families,” Fairchild said. &#8220We get comfortable because we think the coaches are going to be here forever and it’s the kids that move on. Sometimes the adults move on, too.”