Norman makes quick imprint on Meridian basketball

Published 4:14 pm Thursday, May 24, 2018

It hasn’t taken Ron Norman long to establish his brand of basketball at Meridian High School. In two years, Norman has already made two MHSAA Class 6A state title appearances, and one of his fingers is occupied with a 2017  state championship ring.

After winning the 6A crown last year, Meridian went 32-2 and played in its second-consecutive state championship, where the Wildcats dropped a 47-37 contest against Columbus.

For his efforts, Norman was named the 2018 Premier Preps of East Mississippi boys coach of the year.

“Really, I’m just honored, and I’m blessed to have good players who allow me to look good,” Norman said. “Because it’s all about them. Without them, there would be no accolades for myself. I’m honored and I’m happy that I’ve been chosen, and it’s really just a credit to my basketball players.”

Norman was hired from Pascagoula High School to replace former Meridian head coach Randy Bolden. Norman considers himself a basketball historian, and Meridian’s rich basketball tradition wasn’t lost on him. 

“I always knew about the great program and the great players, and as I grew up, Meridian was one of those schools,” Norman said. “I grew up in a small school — Bay Springs — and you knew where the big players were and the good programs. And I always knew that Meridian was a great program.”

The concept of building a championship program isn’t foreign to Norman, who has coached in five state championship games. He guided Wayne County to a Class 5A state title in 2012.

While Norman’s coaching acumen has much to do with his success at Meridian, he credited his players for trusting his process and believing in the fundamentals he preaches during practice.

“Kids buying in,” Norman said. “The first year with them winning it, it was more of me learning them, them adjusting to me and us making it happen. And this year, they were more my kids, and they bought in and accepted the challenge to be great. We were great for a long time, and if not for a couple missed shots here and there, we would have been back-to-back state champions.”

Norman first two seasons at Meridian have been just as enjoyable for him as it has been for members of Wildcat nation. While he’s thankful to be able to coach talented players, those same players’ attitudes off the court, he said, have been just as impressive.

“Just having your best players being your best character kids, your best practice players and your best kids around campus,” Norman said. “And that’s what I had in Miles Miller and Tyron Brewer. I had it in my junior class with Treamond Pittman and (Vontrell) Pringle. So, my kids did well on and off the court, and brought all of those attributes to practice. That makes it easy when you’re able to practice as hard as you play.”