MERIDIAN —
Hilary Allen is going out in style.
The Meridian Community College women’s basketball coach led the Eagles to the NJCAA national tournament for the first time in his 12 seasons at the helm in March. The veteran coach, 23 of his 30 seasons on a college bench have been spent as a head coach, is now retiring.
“I wish to express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Scott Elliott for giving me the opportunity to continue my athletic career at Meridian Community College,” Allen said in a release, adding that he plans to move back to Florida in the near future. “I grew up in a small town in Kentucky and people just love basketball in Kentucky. So did I. It has been beyond any of my dreams to think that I have been on the bench as either the head coach or as an assistant coach for over 1,000 games.
“I want to thank all of my former players and coaches, especially my associate head coach, Celia Allen, for a great run. I had a blast!”
Allen, who previously served as a head coach at the University of Tampa, Edison Community College and Chipola Junior College, won 424 wins in those 23 seasons — 249 coming at MCC.
In racking up wins, the Eagles were consistently solid. MCC has made the NJCAA Region 23 tournament the past eight seasons, the longest current streak in the region. In addition to the region title this past season, the Eagles finished as region runners-up in 2007 and 2011. Allen led MCC to the tournament 10 times in his 12 seasons.
That success came on the back of a high-powered offense. Allen’s system depended on a fast-paced attack that led to five players topping the 1,000-point mark during their two seasons at MCC, including Chasity Kearney, who graduated this past year as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,207 points. Other 1,000-point scorers under Allen include Northeast Lauderdale’s Norianna Haynes, Meridian’s Tiara Parker and Southeast Lauderdale’s Monique Horner.
In addition to serving as women’s basketball coach, Allen also was the athletic director at MCC. During that 12-year span, 59 Eagles teamswon the region title or finished region runners-up. MCC also won a national championship, finished as national runners-up twice and finished third three times.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Meridian Community College women’s basketball Hilary Allen is retiring after 12 seasons with the Eagles and 23 seasons as a head coach overall. Allen led MCC to the NJCAA national tournament this past season, his first trip to the national tournament. Paula Merritt
-
Meridian Community College women’s basketball coach Hilary Allen won 249 games in 12 seasons with the Eagles, 424 in 23 seasons as a head coach. Paula Merritt
Discussion
Stepping down
Allen retiring as MCC women’s basketball coach
- Sports
-
-
Newton County beats Houston 10-0 to claim 7th fast-pitch championshi
Players from Newton County’s dugout barely made it to the foul line before a celebratory dogpile ensued here Saturday. Indeed, winning never gets old.
The Lady Cougars blanked Houston 10-0 Saturday at Freedom Ridge Park, completing an easy sweep of their best-of-three, Class 4A State Championship Series and gaining a measure of revenge after falling short a year ago. -
Rockets roar by East Central, claim 5A crown
Trae Embry took somewhat of a gamble when he accepted the softball
coaching job at Neshoba Central -- leaving his hometown and his comfort zone for a
new opportunity. - Newton County wins state
-
Enterprise falls twice to East Webster
It just wasn't to be.
After 16 innings of big plays and tense moments, the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs fell just short of their third MHSAA Class 2A State Fast-Pitch Softball Championship on Saturday, dropping a 3-1 decision in the decisive game three. But EHS head coach Davey Dewitt said he was pleased with the way his team played, battling East Webster to the last out. -
Richmond leaves Clarkdale for Neshoba Central
Former Clarkdale High School head football coach Chris Richmond is leaving the team to serve as a position coach at Neshoba Central next season. Richmond, who went 1-21 in his two seasons as the Bulldogs head coach said the move to Neshoba will help him stay closer to his family
-
Neshoba Central shuts out East Central 8-0
Neshoba Central’s last two rounds of the state softball playoffs involved grueling series wins over Lake Cormorant and New Hope. And while no one knows what today holds in the Class 5A State Championship Series, the Lady Rockets zipped through East Central like a hot knife through butter in Ridgeland Friday night.
-
Enterprise tops East Webster 6-3
Just one more win.
That's how far away the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs are from closing out an amazing season. After beginning the year 4-8, EHS has won 15 of their last 19 games, including Friday afternoon's 6-3 win over East Webster in the MHSAA Class 2A Fast-Pitch Softball Championships. -
Newton County romps Houston 16-3
In the second inning of the opening game of their best-of-three, Class 4A State Championship Series, Newton County left the bases loaded without pushing across a run and coach Justin Chaney said he was worried his squad wasn’t taking advantage of a key opportunity.
-
Upton, Braves slam Dodgers 8-5
Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.
-
Enterprise in search of 3rd fast-pitch title
Davey Dewitt has accomplished a lot in his first year as head softball coach at Enterprise High School. After a runner-up performance in 2A slow-pitch last fall, Enterprise and Dewitt have returned to the state championships in fast-pitch.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
