Brittney Reese, a seven-time world champion and Olympic golf medalist long jumper, headlines the 2026 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame induction class announced at the MSHOF museum Wednesday.
Reese is joined by a talented and diverse group that includes three former football stars, the winningest college baseball coach in Mississippi history, a championship swimming and diving coach, and perhaps the most successful strength and conditioning coach in football history.
In alphabetical order, the MSHOF Class of 2026:
- Glen Collins, a Jackson native and Mississippi State first team All American football star. One of the most decorated defensive linemen in Mississippi football history, Collins was a first round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1982 and played seven years in the NFL. Collins played high school football at Jim Hill. At State, he was so dominant that opposing teams nearly always double-teamed him. He was one of the heroes of State’s memorable 6-3 victory over Alabama in 1980, which remains perhaps the most treasured victory in MSU football history.
- Louis Guy, a two-way player, who was one of the heroes of the undefeated 1960 Ole Miss football team that was awarded the Football Writers of America national championship. Guy played wingback and defensive back and was a threat to score on either side of the football. He caught three touchdown passes in a game against Houston and returned a pass interception 100 yards for a touchdown in a victory over Tennessee. Guy was drafted in the third round of the NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and later played for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders. Following his playing days, he built a successful career as an orthodontist and Jackson community leader.
- Michael Haddix, a two-time Mississippi State All-SEC running back from Walnut who was the eighth overall pick of the 1983 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Haddix was one of those running backs with a rare blend of both speed and power, which he employed to gain six yards per carry for his entire State career, still a school record. “Just an unbelievably great back,” Collins said. “I know because I had to tackle him in practice. Michael was a great teammate and a great guy.. All us guys from that era of State football remain close.”
- Bobby Halford, a Meridian native who was a terrific baseball player before becoming the head baseball coach at William Carey University where he has amassed more than 1,300 victories, surpassing Hall of Famer Ron Polk as the winningest college baseball coach in Mississippi history. He has led the Crusaders to 19 conference championships and 26 national tournament appearances. He was the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 2017.
- Ronnie Mayers, former Delta State athletic director and before that the championship swimming and diving coach for the Cleveland school. Mayers’ teams won 11 Gulf South Conference titles and made 15 NCAA Championship appearances. Mayers recruited and coached 56 All Americans during his career – little wonder the Delta State aquatics center bears his name.
- Johnny Parker, considered a pioneer in strength and conditioning, particularly in football. Parker coached for 35 years at the college and professional levels after beginning his career at Indianola Academy. His innovative training methods have influenced generations of coaches and athletes. He earned three Super Bowl rings as an NFL strength coach with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Bucs.
- Brittney Reese, a Gulfport native who has become one of the most decorated athletes in Mississippi history, male or female, in any sport. She starred in track and field and basketball at Gulfport High and Gulf Coast Community College before concentrating in track and field under Hall of Fame coach Joe Walker at Ole Miss where she was a two-time NCAA champion for the Rebels. She is a seven-time world champion who won the Olympic gold medal in 2012 and silver medals in 2016 and 2021. She is the latest in an amazing pantheon of Mississippi long jumping greats, including Hall of Famers Ralph Boston, Willye B. White, Larry Myricks and Savanté Stringfellow.
The Class of 2026 will be inducted in ceremonies during MSHOF Hall of Fame Weekend July 31-Aug. 1.
— Article credit to Rick Cleveland for Mississippi Today —
