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May drawn to Sikeston by the challenge, community, and past
SIKESTON — At one time, Sikeston was a dynasty, rattling off 51 straight victories and boasting five undefeated seasons. But the Bulldogs of today are a far cry from those legendary teams.
Now, a new dawn breaks, as Jim May, a coach with a proven track record who has seen the highs and lows of high school football, answers the call to reestablish the once-proud program.
“It’s really important to me that we build a program that Sikeston can be proud of again,” May said. “Our kids are going to play hard and do things the right way. The community will enjoy watching us play, feel like Sikeston football is back where it belongs and be proud of the product we’re putting on the field.”
After years of building a powerhouse at Scott City, May is taking a leap of faith, hoping to reawaken a sleeping giant and galvanize a community hungry for victory. But what could possibly lure a coach away from the comforts of home for the uncertain promise of a new beginning?
“It’s hard to pinpoint a single reason,” May said. “For 22 years, I’ve basically been playing the same schools in the SEMO-South, and there was an allure into going to some of these other places.”
The prospect of facing fresh challenges and devising new game plans against unfamiliar adversaries invigorated May. After years of battling the same teams, he craved the adrenaline rush of stepping into the unknown, where every game would be a test of his adaptability and strategic instincts.
“We had things running pretty well up there at Scott City,” he said. “But it was time for a change, and it wasn’t until I got to Sikeston, and felt the hunger for a new challenge return, that I realized how exciting it was to take on something like this.”
It wasn’t just the allure of a new challenge that drew May to Sikeston; it was also the promise of a united front. The community’s support and the administration’s commitment to providing the tools for success created an environment where May felt he could truly thrive.
“The welcome I’ve received has been incredible,” May said. “The passion from the fans, the investment from the school leaders — it’s all been a major factor in my decision. Everyone is hungry to get this thing back on track.”
The magnetic pull of Sikeston wasn’t just about a blank slate or the town rallying behind him. It was the gravity of a winning tradition, a program whose roots ran deep into the soil of southeast Missouri football.
It was the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of coaching legends like Kenneth Knox, whose undefeated record at Sikeston propelled him to the college ranks, and Bill Sapp, a 17-year mainstay who amassed 14 conference titles.
“There is a storied past,” May said. “This program was the top dog of the area for a long time. I’m looking forward to the challenge of getting back to those heights because Sikeston is a special place.”
BULLDOGS LEGENDS RETURN
The return of Charlie Vickery to the Sikeston sidelines isn’t just a coaching change; it’s the continuation of a story that began more than a half-century ago.
Vickery, a Missouri Football Coaches Hall of Famer and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Semoball Awards, led the Bulldogs to 156 wins as head coach from 1978 to 2003, and now he’s back in a new role, this time as an assistant, the same role that May once served under him at Chaffee.
The two coaches’ paths first crossed at Chaffee, where May served as Vickery’s defensive coordinator.
May then left to take his first head coaching position at Perryville in 2007, but a year later, a call from his alma mater, Scott City, was too strong to resist
“I learned to coach under coach Vickery,” said May. “We spoke almost daily even as opposing coaches. He was my sounding board and taught me pretty much everything I know about coaching football.”
The mentor-mentee relationship came full circle in 2019, as Vickery, having stepped down as a head coach at Chaffee in 2016, joined May’s staff at Scott City, bringing his wealth of experience and offensive expertise to the Rams.
“We had a really good run with him running the offense,” May said. “So when I got this opportunity, with his background and history in Sikeston, it just made sense to make sure he came with me. He’s forgotten more about the offensive side of football than I will probably ever know.”
The reunion proved fruitful. In their five seasons together at Scott City, the Rams amassed over 2,300 points, leading to an overall record of 43-15 during that time.
Vickery didn’t hesitate for a second when he heard May was headed to Sikeston.
“I wasn’t going anywhere else,” Vickery said. “If I was going to help anybody it was going to be him. I wanted to see Sikeston get back to what it had been in the past. I know how coach May operates, coaches and treats kids, and he is the perfect guy to get that done.”
Vickery understands that rebuilding a program takes time and dedication. He’s not looking for quick fixes or overnight miracles. Instead, he’s focused on establishing a solid foundation built on fundamentals, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of improvement.
“We are focused on being competitive right now and getting better every day,” he said. “I know we are getting better every week. We have kids who want to learn and we’re thrilled to teach them.
“That’s what coaching is about,” Vickery continued. “We all want to work hard and get this program turned around.”
Joining May and Vickery on the sidelines is defensive coordinator Kevin Collier, a veteran coach entering his 46th year of high school football. Collier, who previously served as an assistant at Sikeston, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Bulldogs’ defense.
“[Collier] is one of the most respected coaches in southeast Missouri and he is an unbelievable addition to our staff,” May said before closing with a chuckle, “he’s been around the block a few times as well.”
Collier first joined the Sikeston staff in 1989 under Vickery, where he remained until 1996. After a brief stint elsewhere, he returned to the Bulldogs for the 2000 season. Coller’s coaching career has also included at stops at Hayti, Chester (Ill.), Malden, Dexter and a couple of schools in Arkansas.
While Collier’s coaching journey had taken him far and wide, he always held a special place in his heart for the Bulldogs, and the chance to reunite with Vickery sealed the deal for his return to the sidelines he once called home.
“I was lucky enough to be here when we had quite a bit of success,” Collier said. “Honestly, I regretted leaving when I did. It was a difficult decision and now I’m getting another chance. I was lucky they needed some help and I’m getting to coach with these guys.
The journey back to the top won’t be easy, but the Bulldogs have the right men for the job. With more than a century of combined coaching wisdom, this coaching staff is navigating the turbulent waters of rebuilding, determined to right the ship and set a winning course.
“We are improving,” Collier concluded. “The kids are hungry, want to learn and be better. We all want to get Sikeston back to what it was and what we all know it can be. We want our kids to know what they are doing, be competitive and play with fire.”
The wins may not come immediately, but the progress will be undeniable, a steady march toward a future where the Bulldogs once again stand tall as a force to be reckoned with.