Jay Ladner headlines Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges Hall of Fame class of 2020

For many, getting inducted into a Hall of Fame is something that takes the better part of a lifetime.

Southern Miss Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jay Ladner should know, as the son of J. Larry Ladner, who was inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges Hall of Fame in 2015. Just a few short years later, like father, like son.

Tonight, Coach Ladner was inducted into the same elite group as a part of the 15-member class of 2020, a ceremony that was put on hold due to COVID-19.

Ladner actually spent just two years in the JUCO ranks, a testament to the immediate impact he had during his short time at Jones College.

He led the Bobcats to a mark of 17-8 in 2013 before going 28-5 in 2014 as the NJCAA National Champions.

Jones was the first school from Mississippi to cut down the nets and the lowest seed in the tournament to ever do so.

The rest is history. “Without them giving me the opportunity and without me being there with that group of players at that particular time, for whatever I’ve been able to accomplish in my professional career which has eventually led to having the opportunity to come back to my home school, my alma mater and help lead our basketball program, The University of Southern Mississippi, it just wouldn’t have happened. And I’m very thankful to the Lord of course, but so thankful to Jones County for the opportunity they gave me back then. And then to be honored in such a great way, it’s really a very humbling experience and I’m very thankful.”

Prior to his two years at Jones, Coach Ladner was the head coach at St. Stanislaus for 20 years, leading the Rock-a-Chaws to the 2011 4A State Championship.

After Jones he spent five years at Southeastern Louisiana and is now coming off his second season at Southern Miss.

The Class of 2020 list includes:

• Timothy Pollard -Coahoma
• Jim Carmody-Co-Lin
• Freddie J. Bagley-ECCC
• Malcolm “Mack” Robinson-ECCC
• Doug Fowler-Hinds
• Randy Baldwin-Holmes
• Jimmy Guy McDonald-Itawamba
• Jay Ladner-Jones College
• Fredna Cross-Meridian
• Steven Cannon Burgess-Delta
• Vick Ballard-Mississippi Gulf Coast
• Sherry Slayton Holland-NEMCC
• Johnny Ray-Northwest Mississippi
• Elaine Powell-Pearl River
• Cassels Wilson-Southwest MS