Jackie Sherrill is third former MSU football coach to go into the MSHOF.
Jackie Sherrill Inducted Into Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
July 30, 2016 | Football
JACKSON, Miss. – Jackie Sherrill, the winningest coach in Mississippi State football history, was one of six legends officially inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night at the Jackson Convention Complex.
Sherrill became the third former Bulldog football head coach to be enshrined, joining College Football Hall of Famer Allyn McKeen (1977) and Stanley Robinson (1966). Sherrill is the ninth MSU head coach among all sports to be inducted into the MSHOF. James "Babe" McCarthy (men's basketball, 1974); Richard Williams (men's basketball, 2014); Ron Polk (baseball, 1998); R.T. "Tom" Sawyer (men's tennis, 1992), Paul Gregory (men's basketball and baseball, 1982) and Dudy Noble (baseball, 1961) also earned the prestigious honor.
"To the state of Mississippi, there's no question I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here with this honor tonight," Sherrill said during his induction speech. "Mississippi is a very special place with very special people. Growing up on the coast in Biloxi, I learned quite a few things but one was work ethic. To the Mississippi State family, I thank you for taking me and for teaching me how to be a Bulldog.
"One of the most important roles of a coach is to put his players in the right position to succeed. And I was very, very fortunate because all of my coaches from pee wee to junior high, put me in the right place. I always questioned myself if I did the right things, leaving the practice field, but today, many years later, I know I did the right thing because all of the players I have had the opportunity to coach have been very successful."
Sherrill guided the Bulldogs to six bowl games, four Associated Press poll Top 20 final rankings and the 1998 Southeastern Conference Western Division title. He remains the only coach in the state of Mississippi to take a team to the SEC Championship Game.
Sherrill, a native of Biloxi, won a school-record 75 games from 1991-2003. His MSU teams spent 36 weeks ranked in the Top 20, which remains a school record. In 26 years as a head coach, he produced a 180-120-4 mark.
Sherrill became the third former Bulldog football head coach to be enshrined, joining College Football Hall of Famer Allyn McKeen (1977) and Stanley Robinson (1966). Sherrill is the ninth MSU head coach among all sports to be inducted into the MSHOF. James "Babe" McCarthy (men's basketball, 1974); Richard Williams (men's basketball, 2014); Ron Polk (baseball, 1998); R.T. "Tom" Sawyer (men's tennis, 1992), Paul Gregory (men's basketball and baseball, 1982) and Dudy Noble (baseball, 1961) also earned the prestigious honor.
"To the state of Mississippi, there's no question I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here with this honor tonight," Sherrill said during his induction speech. "Mississippi is a very special place with very special people. Growing up on the coast in Biloxi, I learned quite a few things but one was work ethic. To the Mississippi State family, I thank you for taking me and for teaching me how to be a Bulldog.
"One of the most important roles of a coach is to put his players in the right position to succeed. And I was very, very fortunate because all of my coaches from pee wee to junior high, put me in the right place. I always questioned myself if I did the right things, leaving the practice field, but today, many years later, I know I did the right thing because all of the players I have had the opportunity to coach have been very successful."
Sherrill guided the Bulldogs to six bowl games, four Associated Press poll Top 20 final rankings and the 1998 Southeastern Conference Western Division title. He remains the only coach in the state of Mississippi to take a team to the SEC Championship Game.
Sherrill, a native of Biloxi, won a school-record 75 games from 1991-2003. His MSU teams spent 36 weeks ranked in the Top 20, which remains a school record. In 26 years as a head coach, he produced a 180-120-4 mark.
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