By John Surratt and Ernest Bowker

The Vicksburg Post

Marcus Rogers, who was arrested Wednesday night for DUI after a wreck on Old Highway 27, has resigned as Vicksburg High School’s head football coach.

Vicksburg Warren School District spokesperson Christi Kilroy said Rogers, 38, resigned during the day Friday. His position is being advertised in the employment section of the school district’s website.

Rogers said Friday evening he plans to enter a 30-day alcohol treatment program on Monday.

“I battle with demons. You have to know about my past, the way I was birthed. It’s been a problem that’s been controlled, but it just was a matter of time. So now I have to do what I have to do to be a better man, a better father, a better husband. That’s the most important thing right now. I’m willing to do what I’ve got to do to make myself better,” Rogers said. “I’m willing to take the steps necessary to be a better man, a better person, a better husband, a better father to my kids. Because at the end of the day, I’ve got three children and a wife I’ve got to look in the eyes and Daddy has to be Daddy. My life still has to go on. But at the end of the day, I have to get well so I can be very productive for everybody.”

Rogers was hired as Vicksburg’s head coach in February 2014 and spent three years at the school. He has often called it a dream job, and he appeared to have the Gators heading in the right direction on the field. They won four games in his first season, but improved to 9-4 in 2016 and reached the Class 5A playoffs each of the last two years.

Rogers thanked the Vicksburg Warren School District officials who gave him the opportunity to coach at VHS, as well as the students he coached and taught, while also saying he deeply regrets how his time there came to an end.

“By no means am I a perfect man. I make mistakes. And in making mistakes, right now I cost myself the best thing that ever happened to me, being here at Vicksburg High School. Being the head coach here at Vicksburg High School has always been a dream of mine since I was playing football at Jackson State. I regret the mistake I made, but the mistake I made is going to be an eye opener for me,” Rogers said.

“For the most part, I wouldn’t take anything back from being at Vicksburg High School. I enjoyed my ride. I’ve got 26 kids who are going to be playing college football next year, and not only that but touching the lives of all of the kids at the junior high and high school,” Rogers continued. “All the kids I touched, I’m grateful for that. I’ll always be indebted to (superintendent) Chad Shealy. I appreciate the opportunity he gave me, as well as Preston Nailor, the best athletic director in the state of Mississippi.”

According to Warren County Sheriff Office reports, deputies responding to a 911 call at 11:47 p.m. Wednesday about a single car wreck at the intersection of Lee Road and Old Highway 27 found a 2016 Dodge Charger in a ditch on the east side of the road with front end damage.

The report indicated the car was apparently eastbound on Lee Road, and the driver failed to negotiate the intersection and went off the east side of Old Highway 27 and into the ditch.

The driver of the car, who was identified in jail records as Rogers, was the only occupant.

He was not injured in the accident. According to jail records he was booked into the Warren County Jail at 12:15 a.m. Thursday. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

Deputies investigating the wreck indicated the car was leased to the Vicksburg Warren School District.

Both Rogers and VWSD officials declined to comment about the incident.