PEARL – Three former Winston Academy coaches – Les Triplett, Barry Gray and David Blount – were among six men inducted into the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Coaches' Association Hall of Fame Saturday in ceremonies at the Rankin County campus of Hinds Community College.
“The first thing I thought about when I found out that I would be inducted was all the people who have helped me,” said Triplett, the long time activities director for the MAIS. “It's really not about me. It's the people God put in front of me and behind me to push me.
“It also means being a part of a group that is so outstanding — guys and ladies I looked up to for years and years as I was coming up through my career.” He said.
Triplett attended Louisville public schools through the eighth grade, then transferred to Winston Academy, from where he graduated in 1974. After receiving a physical education degree from Mississippi State, he returned to Winston Academy as an assistant coach in basketball and football.
After leaving briefly, he returned to Winston Academy as head boys basketball coach and assistant coach in football. He also coached boys basketball at Jackson Prep before becoming MAIS activities director.
Gray, an Ole Miss graduate, has coached at Hillcrest Christian, Winston Academy, Indianola Academy, Kirk Academy and Brookhaven Academy. “It means a lot to me, it really does. I'm really thrilled,” he said of his selection for the Hall of Fame. “It's been 32 years coaching. It's been a great ride.”
Gray said he and and his wife Lindy cried when notified of his selection. She has been his assistant coach in basketball all these years. “We tag team.”
Gray's first coaching position was at Hillcrest for one year, where he was head coach for junior high girls and boys basketball, an assistant for the varsity boys and girls teams, head coach for junior high football, defensive coordinator for the varsity football team and he coached the golf team.
In four years as girls basketball coach at Winston Academy, his teams were 98-34. He was also defensive coordinator for the varsity football team and head coach of the junior high football team.
“Winston was an awesome time,” he said.
Blount's first coaching position was at Winston Academy following graduation from the University of Southern Mississippi. He fondly remembers those years.
“They were some of the happiest years, if not the happiest, I ever had. I remember being young and coaching every sport, which we had to do back then. These young coaches today don't understand that.”
He was on the football staff of head coach Robert Herring. “He was the best mentor, the best teacher and the best coach I could possibly have.” Triplett was on the Winston Academy football staff at the same time.
Blount's other coaching stops in football have included Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Copiah Academy, Jackson Academy, where he won two MAIS championships, two years as defensive coordinator for Millsaps College, Tri-County Academy, where his teams won more than 100 games and two MAIS titles in 10 years, and his current position as football coach at Canton Academy.
“It means a lot to me being in this association for so many years,” Blount said of his induction.
The other members of the Hall of Fame Class 2019 are long time Meridian High School and Lamar School football coach Mac Barnes; MAIS football official, Prentiss Christian Board of Directors member and MPSA Executive Committee member James Russell Dumas; and Central Delta Academy and Indianola Academy basketball standout Mike Sibley who once scored 64 points n a game.
There are now 90 members of the Hall of Fame which began with the 2002 class.
