George Sekul

Coach Stephen George Sekul, age 83, died Monday, January 4, 2021 at his home in d’Iberville, Mississippi surrounded by family. Raised in Biloxi, Mississippi Sekul is survived by his wife Diane Poulos Sekul and three daughters: Gia Knight, Kari White and Michelle Sekul Kanode (Jesse); six grandchildren: Justin Vuyovich and Aden Knight (Gia), Ivan Nicholas Kovacevich, Rumor Alexandria White and Jude White (Kari) and George Sekul Kanode (Michelle); his brother, Sherman “Rock” Sekul (LouAnn); and sister, Geraldine “Chee Chee” Sekul Garringer (Jim). He is preceded in death by his parents, Mike Sekul and Frances Mihojevich Sekul; and brother, Michael Sekul. Sekul was born October 5, 1937, in Biloxi and grew up on Point Cadet. He was a standout player at Notre Dame High School in football and basketball, as well as excelling in American Legion baseball. In 1955, he enrolled at what was then Perkinston Junior College. Sekul was a first-team All-State selection by the Mississippi Association of Junior Colleges at quarterback in the 1956 season, as well as earning All-American honorable mention honors. In 1957-58, Sekul was the starting quarterback at Mississippi Southern College (now The University of Southern Mississippi), where he received his bachelor’s degree and coached the next two seasons while earning a master’s degree in educational administration. At Southern Miss, he was also a punter, kick returner and defensive back. His three interceptions in a game are still tied for second-best in USM history. The Golden Eagles had the school’s only undefeated, untied season in 1958. They went 9-0, earning the UPI College Division National Championship, and Sekul went on to play in the 1959 Senior Bowl. His legend still casts a long shadow in Perkinston, where the playing surface at A.L. May Memorial Stadium was dedicated as George Sekul Field in 2017 just yards from where his two national title squads are commemorated on monuments in front of the King Center. Sekul moved back to Perkinston in the summer of 1961 when head coach Ed Evans offered him the position of backfield coach. He also took over as head track coach, and the Bulldogs won the first of his five state championships that season (1962, 1968, 1970, 1979, 1980). After four years as an assistant, Sekul became head football coach in 1966, and the Bulldogs won the first of his eight state championships (1966, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986) right out of the gate by going 10-2 after winning the Shrine Bowl 21-7 over Navarro in Corsicana, Texas. Sekul’s Bulldogs won the school’s second national championship in 1971. Their 11-0 season culminated in a 22-13 win over Fort Scott Junior College in the NJCAA Championship Game played at the Shrine Bowl in Savannah, Ga. Gulf Coast would win Sekul his second national title in 1984, going 13-0. The Bulldogs beat Harford Community College 21-7 in East Bowl in Bel Air, Md. In 1986, Sekul’s Bulldogs defeated LesMcRae in the East Bowl. In addition, his track teams won seven Mississippi Junior College Conference Track Championships. When Sekul retired after the 1991 season, he did so with a 205-77-5 record (.712 winning percentage) during his 26 years in charge. Over his career, his teams were ranked in the top 10 in the nation 13 times and top 20 in the nation 19 times and he was named Mississippi Junior College Coach of the Year six times and Region XXIII Coach of the Year four times. He remains the fifth-winningest coach in NJCAA history. After his retirement, he was an active member of Gulf Coast’s Bulldog Club serving as president and the MGCCC Foundation, serving on the board of directors from 2006-2020. Sekul was inducted into USM’s M-Club Hall of Fame in 1968 and the NJCAA Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996. MGCCC inducted him into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the first class of 1999, and he was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2002, Sekul was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. And in 2007, he was inducted as a Charter Member of the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame. In 1985 he received the Frank ”Twig” Branch Award, in 1991 the Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award, and in 2014 the Lindy Callahan Distinguished American Award all from the Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Sekul remained very active in his heritage as a member of the Slavic Benevolent Association for more than 55 years and his faith as a member of St. Michael Catholic Church and later Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary where he proudly served as an usher. He was a member of the Biloxi Business Men’s Club for nine years, serving as president from 2012-2017, and he served on the advisory board for the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum for 21 years. In 1997 and 1999, Sekul served as the Chairman of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. In addition, he served on the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Council. He was the president and founder of Gulf Star, Inc. Real Estate; president of Central Bay Seafood, Inc. and secretary/treasurer of Gulf Central Seafood, Inc, the business started by his father. From 1996 to 2006, he was on the Biloxi Seafood Festival and Blessing of the Fleet Committee, serving as the president for six years. Sekul was a loving father, grandfather and devoted husband. Outside of his many accomplishments on and off the field, Sekul was most proud of having the opportunity to coach his youngest brother Michael at Gulf Coast and his grandson Ivan Nicholas Kovacevich in peewee basketball and football. He continued to support his grandchildren, cheering from the sidelines or audience at every opportunity. He loved to dance and listen to good music. He loved the water and would take any opportunity to be on the water with his family and friends at one time operating his own shrimp boat the “No Huddle.” He also enjoyed snow skiing and took several skiing trips with wife Diane and brother-in-law Roger Poulos and sister-in-law Glenda Poulos. Time spent with longtime friend, Harroll Castle was treasured. Trips to Rebel Boat Works to hang out with Paul Boden and his crew became part of his daily routine for several years. The family would like to extend their appreciation for all the kind words and support they have received in recent days; for the care and concern shown by Seth Jones with Your Choice Senior Care; Ocean Springs Hospital, Kara Hunter, RN Tiffany and Dr. James Harwell; and Michael Holmes with Hospice of Light who helped the family through the last moments. A very special thank you to the staff of the MGCCC Foundation, and MGCCC President, Dr. Mary Graham for their support. And finally, MGCCC Archivist, Charles Sullivan, for helping the family honor Sekul and keep his memory alive with beautiful photographs, honors and accomplishments over the years. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in his memory on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 12 o’clock noon at St. Michael Catholic Church, 177 1st Street, Biloxi with visitation beginning at 10am. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park. A reception will be held following services at Frank P. Gruich, Sr. Community Center, 591 Howard Ave, Biloxi. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his honor to the MGCCC Foundation, PO Box 99, Perkinston, MS 39573 so that his legacy for impacting student lives will carry on. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue in Biloxi, is honored to serve the Sekul family.