After two seasons as head football coach at Milan High School, Carl Diffee Jr., has resigned.
In portions of a letter to Jonathan Criswell, Director of Schools, Milan Special District, Diffee said “I am writing to you today to resign from my position as head football coach at Milan High School effective June 30th.
“I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve in this role over the last two years.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to live up to the promises I made coming here and our season this year is unacceptable for this program.
“I take full responsibility and hold myself 100 percent responsible.
“The disarray and undisciplined nature of our sideline and the execution of our play was not what Milan has been known for.
“I am not the right person to lead this program going forward.
“Milan deserves better than I am able to give and Milan will be in a better position with me stepping away.”
Milan finished the 2021 season 4-6, which included a 32-28 loss at Melrose in the Class 4A State Playoffs, one year after the Bulldogs lost to Alcoa, 35-0, in the Class 3A state championship game, and finished the season at 11-2.
A Jackson native, Diffee arrived in Milan following a successful stint at North Panola High School in Sardis, Mississippi.
Three seasons prior to Diffee joining the varsity staff, the Cougars were 6-24, including two, 1-win seasons. In his role as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, the Cougars surged to four straight playoff appearances.
When Diffee was named head coach in 2016, he led his team to a 10-3 record with a quarterfinal playoff appearance in his first season. His second season, his team set three school records by winning the first district title in school history, recording the best record in school history at 13-1 that included a trip to the semi-finals.
He went 12-2 in his third year that included back-to-back district titles and another trip to the semi-finals. In 2019 the Class 3A Cougars were 8-4 but lost all four games by a combined 14 points. His four year record at North Panola was 43-10, with a playoff record of 8-4.
(PHOTO: Carl Diffee Jr)
