Former EMCC quarterback and football coach Randall Bradberry joins Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame

PEARL – Former East Mississippi Community College quarterback and head football coach Randall Bradberry was one of 15 individuals across the state inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame during Tuesday night's eighth annual induction banquet held at the Clyde Muse Center on Hinds Community College's Rankin Campus.

A native of Sturgis, Bradberry was honored, along with one individual from each of the state's 14 other community colleges, after maintaining a distinguished career of nearly 40 years as an administrator, educator and athletic coach at the state, collegiate and high school levels all within the state of Mississippi.

Following a standout prep career at Sturgis High School, Bradberry was recruited to EMCC by coaching legend Bob "Bull" Sullivan and joined the Lions in the fall of 1967.  With the honor of having played quarterback for the Hall of Fame coach during Sullivan's final two seasons on the Scooba campus, Bradberry helped lead the Lions to a two-year composite record of 15-5, including a state runner-up finish as a freshman.  As a sophomore team co-captain, he capped his EMCC playing career by being tabbed as a North Division All-Star in 1968.

Bradberry continued his collegiate career at Delta State University, where he became the Statemen's starting quarterback as a senior after working as a part-time starter during his first year under head coach Horace McCool's guidance.  During his two-year playing career at the Cleveland-based school, Bradberry established several school passing records.

Upon graduating from DSU in 1971, Bradberry returned to his high school alma mater to kick off what would develop into a successful 27-year coaching career at six different schools among the high school, junior college and university ranks.  Following brief coaching stints at Sturgis and Cumberland, he went back to Delta State to serve as a graduate assistant football coach.  With a master's degree in hand, Bradberry then returned to his junior college alma mater in 1976 to become head football coach at EMCC.

Highlighted by a seven-win season in 1978 and responsible for the program's first-ever state football playoff appearance in 1984, Bradberry spent a dozen seasons at the Lions' football helm.  During his second stint on the Scooba campus, Bradberry also served as East Mississippi's director of athletics while adding responsibilities as the college's dean of students and ultimately becoming interim president before departing EMCC in 1988 for Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

After spending two years as Co-Lin's offensive coordinator, Bradberry was elevated to head football coach in 1990 and guided the Wolves to a second straight South Division title.  During his eight years at the Wesson-based school, Bradberry also served as the college's director of institutional research while completing his doctorate degree in educational leadership with an emphasis in community colleges from Mississippi State University.

Following a brief return to the prep coaching ranks at Madison Central High School, Bradberry branched out to begin an 11-year association with the Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.  After serving as the commissioner of athletics for all MACJC-sanctioned sports as well as executive secretary of the president's association during his stint in Jackson, Bradberry later became the associate executive director for community college academic programs before retiring in 2008.

A member of East Mississippi Community College's inaugural Sports Hall of Fame induction class in 2001, Bradberry has most recently served as an adjunct instructor for Holmes Community College's Ridgeland campus and Mississippi State.

Married 11 years to the former Debbie Riddle of Jackson, Bradberry is the father of one son, Bo, twin daughters, Libby and Laurie, stepson, Brad, and stepdaughter, Laurie.  He also has six grandchildren.       

This year marks the eighth class of the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame.  Bradberry joins previously elected EMCC/EMJC inductees Retha Hand Henderson (2013), Johnny Fisher (2012), Joe Rowell (2011), Tom Scarborough (2010), Elbert "Lum" Wright (2009), Ken Waddell Sr. (2008), Don Edwards (2008), Clyde "Baby Doll" Pierce (2007), Bill Buckner (2007), and Bob "Bull" Sullivan (2007).

Other newly elected members honored during Tuesday's Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies included: Myron C. Martin (Coahoma CC); Albert "Sonny" Hill (Copiah-Lincoln CC); Evelyn "Snoopy" Bender (East Central CC); Dr. Albert Gore (Hinds CC); Ricky Black (Holmes CC); Carrie Ball-Williamson (Itawamba CC); Jackie Parker (Jones County JC); Scott Berry (Meridian CC); John Benge (Mississippi Delta CC); Henry Rath (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC); Mike Lewis (Northeast Mississippi CC); Will Hall (Northwest Mississippi CC); Doug Daniels (Pearl River CC); and Dr. Oliver Young (Southwest Mississippi CC).