GERMANTOWN— Whitehaven has turned back the clock.
In 1996, Stan Collins stepped down as head coach of the Whitehaven football program. For 17 years, he transformed the team, leading the Tigers to their first nine state tournament appearances.
After Collins left, Whitehaven continued its explosive trajectory, appearing in 20 more state playoffs and winning state championships in 2012 and 2016 under Rodney Saulsberry, who led the Tigers from 2004-26.
But in January, Saulsberry left for a role with the Memphis football program.
Collins took his old job back, and in old-school fashion, the Tigers still know how to win even when it is not pretty. Whitehaven (3-1, 1-0 Region 8-6A) earned a hard-nosed 7-6 road win at Germantown (2-2, 0-1) on Sept. 11.
“These guys are younger. Their thoughts on how they want to do things are totally different than when I was coaching out here on the regular,” Collins said after the game. “Back during my days, we did a lot more running than throwing the ball all over the field, and I kind of have to let these guys have their way because I want to help be a teacher and leader to make sure that they become good coaches someplace someday.”
The run game was where the game was decided. The hosts took an early lead after pouncing on a fumble in the end zone. The defensive touchdown was the game's only score until late in the fourth quarter.
Junior quarterback Jourdin Shelton and Whitehaven struggled to find rhythm through the air. But with just over four minutes to play, Shelton noticed a defensive back creeping down and lofted a pass more than 25 yards to junior wideout Chris Hood in the end zone.
That touchdown was all the Tigers needed to pull out a difficult win.
“You gotta keep going even though [the game] isn’t going your way,” Shelton said. “You gotta believe. The football gods will bless you.”
Shelton had a homecoming of his own, having attended Germantown before transferring to Whitehaven. Collins said he was glad to welcome Shelton and three-star Memphis commitment Malik Dean Jr. to the program because both grew up near the school.
Playing for Collins has been an inspiring homecoming for the duo as they embody what it means to wear the Whitehaven uniform.
“The culture means a lot here,” Dean said. “The brotherhood is big here. The family is a really big thing for the school, all of it.”
The Tigers' culture shifted when Collins took over the program almost 30 years ago. Saulsberry was among the players who came through under Collins, and that culture of community continues today.
A majority of the current coaching staff played at Whitehaven, including fathers and sons such as Marcus Hargrove, who played for Whitehaven decades ago, and his son Chance, who wears No. 62 in 2026.
“It’s a good thing to be able to come back out here and be with the guys again,” Collins said. “Practically everybody who coaches here played here. So, it’s been a good deal. We just kind of pass that thing down.”
“Even the principal (Vincent Hunter) played for me.”
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Stan Collins, Whitehaven football turns back clock, winning like its 1996
