NICEVILLE - Brad Phillips built a sterling high school baseball resume in Alabama, but for some time he had a nagging itch to see what he could accomplish a little further south.

"The Panhandle has always had a very high reputation of good baseball," Phillips said. "Getting in this area and experiencing the high level of competition, I've always had an idea I wanted to see what it was all about."

He'll get his chance at Niceville, where Phillips has been hired as the new head baseball coach. The 29-year-old skipper succeeds Kevin Berry, who resigned after leading the Eagles last season to their first state semifinal berth since 1989.

Berry's teaching certification didn't meet the teaching position - history - that was open at Niceville, and he said he didn't have the time to take courses to get the certification. He had been teaching physical education but said the state's slashing of many PE jobs led to his position being cut.

Berry will be immersing himself in family and his work with little league organizations after compiling a 44-16 record in two seasons. He led Niceville to a national ranking in USA Today in 2007, and the Eagles captured district and regional championships last season.

"It was a hard two years, but I wouldn't trade it for the world," Berry said. "I enjoyed my coaching career at Niceville, and I have no regrets.

"I was thankfully allowed to continue that great streak of Niceville baseball started by Bobby Scott and David Garner. Niceville High is at a point where it's got tradition to it and a lot to live up to. It's come a long way because of those guys."

Phillips comes to Niceville after four impressive seasons at Charles Henderson High in Troy, Ala., where he went 115-58 and led the 5A team to four playoff appearances. Most recently, Phillips guided Charles Henderson to a school-record 35 wins and a runner-up finish in the state finals.

Before his time at Charles Henderson, Phillips was the head coach of the semi-pro Chillicothe (Mo.) Mudcats for two years and, prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Troy University from 2002-04.

"He comes highly recommended by the head baseball coach at Troy (Bobby Pierce) where he had worked and some of the other junior colleges in this area thought highly of him, so he came well-recommended," Niceville Athletic Director John Hicks said.

The Eagles are conditioning at this point and Phillips' early impressions of the team have been positive.

"The kids are unbelievable," he said. "The passion for the game is there. They love to work, they want to work."

Niceville third baseman Danny Collins said the team has responded favorably to Phillips.

"Everything he's done so far has been awesome," Collins said.