Nominate a Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer
Help us Preserve Mississippi’s Sports Legacy
Know an athlete, coach or contributor whose achievements deserve a place in Mississippi sports history?
Anyone may nominate an eligible individual for consideration for the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Eligibility does not automatically result in nomination. Candidates must first be formally nominated before they can enter the Hall of Fame selection process.
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame honors the men and women whose accomplishments, leadership and contributions have helped shape our state’s extraordinary sports legacy and nominations are an important part of that process. By submitting a deserving candidate, you help us recognize remarkable individuals, preserve their stories and ensure their contributions to Mississippi sports are remembered for generations to come.
Who Can Be Nominated?
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame considers men and women who have distinguished themselves in amateur and/or professional athletics and whose achievements have brought positive recognition to themselves and the State of Mississippi.
Nominees may include:
- Athletes
- Coaches
- Officials
- Athletic administrators
- Sports journalists and media members
- Team or league owners
- Sports information professionals
- Trainers
- Other individuals who have made significant contributions to athletics
Candidates may be living or deceased.
Eligibility Requirements
Connection to Mississippi
Eligible candidates must be either:
- Native Mississippians who achieved athletic distinction within or outside the state; or
- Individuals born outside Mississippi who have lived, competed, coached or otherwise been significantly involved in Mississippi athletics for at least two seasons at the high school level or above.
In addition to having a significant connection to Mississippi sports, nominees must meet the applicable eligibility requirements below.
Athletes
An athlete must generally have been retired from athletic competition for at least five years or be over the age of 50. Athlete nominees should have received significant recognition from a reputable evaluative body for their athletic accomplishments. Examples may include:
- All-Conference, All-State or All-American honors
- All-Pro or professional All-Star selections
- Olympic participation and medals
- Recognized world or American records
- Major national or international championships
- Major postseason or individual awards
The five-year waiting period is waived for deceased nominees.
Coaches
Individuals nominated primarily for their coaching careers must have at least 20 seasons of paid coaching experience and a verifiable career record that includes more wins than losses.
Contributors
Individuals who did not compete as athletes but made significant contributions to sports receive the same consideration as competitors.
This may include officials, journalists, owners, athletic directors, association leaders, sports information professionals, trainers and others whose work made a meaningful impact on athletics.
Exceptional Circumstances
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame recognizes that exceptional candidates may not fit neatly within established eligibility guidelines. Rare exceptions may be considered through the Hall of Fame’s official committee review process.
How to Submit a Nomination
Anyone may submit a nomination for an eligible candidate.
A strong nomination provides clear, accurate and well-documented information about the nominee’s career, accomplishments and impact.
Please include as much supporting information as possible, including:
- Biographical and contact information
- Connection to Mississippi
- Educational and athletic background
- Career achievements and honors
- Championships, records and major milestones
- Community and civic involvement
- Photographs
- Newspaper or magazine articles
- Programs, media guides or yearbook materials
- Other documentation verifying significant accomplishments
Supporting documentation is extremely important. The Hall of Fame Selection Committee evaluates candidates based on the information available in their nomination materials.
Nomination FAQs
Anyone may nominate an eligible individual for consideration for the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. The person submitting the nomination should provide accurate contact information in case additional information is needed.
Yes. Both living and deceased candidates may be nominated. The five-year retirement waiting period is waived for deceased nominees.
No. Native Mississippians are eligible, but individuals born outside Mississippi may also qualify if they have a significant connection to Mississippi athletics and meet the Hall of Fame’s eligibility requirements.
Athletes generally must have been retired from competition for at least five years or be over the age of 50. The waiting period is waived for deceased candidates.
A nominee being considered primarily for coaching accomplishments must have at least 20 seasons of paid coaching experience and a verifiable career record with more wins than losses.
A strong nomination provides clear, accurate and well-documented information about the nominee’s career, accomplishments and impact. Include as much supporting material as possible, such as records, awards, championships, career statistics, photographs, newspaper or magazine articles, programs, media guides, yearbook materials and other documentation that verifies the nominee’s accomplishments.
Additional pages and supporting documents are encouraged. The strongest nominations clearly demonstrate what the individual accomplished, the significance of those achievements and why the nominee is deserving of consideration for the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Letters of support are also welcome and may be submitted to the Selection Committee by email or mail:
Email: apatterson@msfame.com
Mail:
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
Attn: Andrea Patterson, Executive Director
1152 Lakeland Drive
Jackson, MS 39216
No. A nomination makes an individual eligible for consideration through the Hall of Fame’s official selection process. It does not guarantee selection or induction.
If an individual is already listed as an eligible nominee, a new nomination may not be necessary. However, additional documentation or updated information that strengthens an existing nomination may be valuable. Please contact the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum if you have significant new information to add to an existing nomination.
Letters of support are also welcome and may be submitted to the Selection Committee by email or mail:
Email: apatterson@msfame.com
Mail:
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
Attn: Andrea Patterson, Executive Director
1152 Lakeland Drive
Jackson, MS 39216
