Hall of Famer Hill Denson nabs No. 1,000

Posted on: March 19,2015

Hall of Famer Hill Denson, after his 100th victory, gets a handshake from long-time MSHOF board member Cal Wells. (Photo by Bill Lee)

Belhaven baseball coach Hill Denson (Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2008) picked up his 1,000th collegiate victory on Wednesday when the Blazers defeated Tougaloo College 10-0.
As the head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, Denson won 471 games in 14 seasons, and Wednesday marked his 532nd victory at Belhaven.
“Even when you’re celebrating, ice baths are still cold,” Denson said. “I’m not one for accolades, but this is a special win. I’m incredibly excited, but I’m even more thankful for the people who have been a part of my career to this point.”
Denson, a Bay Springs native, played baseball at USM where the field is named after him at Pete Taylor Park. He was a long-time high school coach at Callaway where his 1981 team won a state championship.
Perhaps the most impressive fact about Denson’s 1,000 victories: He did not become a college head coach until the age of 40. He will turn 71 on April 1 and shows no signs of slowing down.