The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled its 2026 class.
The seven-member class spans a long time of excellence in athletics, from soccer legends and championship coaches to an Olympic gold medalist. Inductees embrace:
- Glen Collins – A primary-team All-American defensive lineman at Mississippi State and a first-round draft choose of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1982, Collins loved a five-year NFL profession that included time with the San Francisco 49ers. The Jackson native was named an SEC Football Legend in 2013 and chosen to Mississippi State’s All-Century Team in 2014.
- Louis Guy – An All-SEC performer at Ole Miss, Guy helped lead the Rebels to nationwide and SEC championships within the early Nineteen Sixties and went on to play professionally with the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders. Following his taking part in days, he constructed a profitable profession as a Jackson-area orthodontist and neighborhood chief.
- Michael Haddix – A two-time All-SEC operating again at Mississippi State and the eighth total choose within the 1983 NFL Draft, Haddix performed eight seasons within the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. His profession common of 6.0 yards per carry stays a Mississippi State file.
- Bobby Halford – The longtime William Carey University baseball coach has amassed greater than 1,300 profession wins, seventh-most in NAIA historical past, and guided his Crusaders to 19 convention titles, 26 nationwide match appearances, and two NAIA World Series semifinal runs. He was named NAIA Coach of the Year in 2017.
- Ronnie Mayers – A swimming and diving coach and later athletic director at Delta State University, Mayers led his groups to 11 convention titles, 15 NCAA championship appearances, and produced 56 All-Americans. The Delta State aquatics facility proudly bears his title.
- Johnny Parker – A famend energy and conditioning chief, Parker coached for 35 years on the faculty {and professional} ranges, successful three Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His revolutionary coaching strategies influenced generations of coaches and athletes nationwide.
- Brittney Reese – One of probably the most embellished athletes in Mississippi historical past, Reese is a four-time Olympian and seven-time world champion within the lengthy soar. The Gulfport native gained Olympic gold in 2012 and silver medals in 2016 and 2021. A two-time NCAA champion at Ole Miss, she stays among the many biggest lengthy jumpers in world historical past.
“Each of these honorees has elevated Mississippi athletics on a national and even international stage,” Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame government director Andrea Patterson mentioned. “Their impact extends beyond their wins and records. They represent the perseverance, leadership, and integrity that define Mississippi sports.”
Inductees will probably be formally enshrined throughout a ceremony weekend scheduled for July 31 to August 1, 2026. Tickets to the occasion will go on sale in January 2026. A full record of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame members could be discovered here.