The Women's Professional Basketball League was a professional women's basketball league in the United States. The league played three seasons from the fall of 1978 to the spring of 1981. The league was the first professional women's basketball league in the United States.
Yolanda Evette Griffith is an American professional basketball hall of fame player who played in both the ABL and WNBA. A former WNBA MVP, she is considered one of the greatest rebounders and defensive players in the history of Women's Basketball. She last played in the WNBA as a member of the Indiana Fever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in WNBA history. She is sometimes called by her nicknames: "Yo" and "Yo-Yo". Since retiring from the professional ranks, Griffith was as assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently an assistant coach with the Boston College Eagles. Griffith was inducted into the 2014 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's class on her first year of eligibility.
Bernard W. Bierman was an American college football coach best known for his years as head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers football program. Between 1934 and 1941, his Minnesota teams won five national championships and seven Big Ten championships and had four perfect seasons.
Frank Manning "Bruiser" Kinard Sr. was an American football tackle and coach and university athletic administrator. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1951 and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Allison Thomas Stanislaus "Pooley" Hubert was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. Regarded as one of the South's greatest college football stars, he played quarterback for coach Wallace Wade's football teams at the University of Alabama from 1922 to 1925, leading Alabama to its first bowl game, the 1926 Rose Bowl, known as "the game that changed the South." Wade called him "undoubtedly one of the greatest football players of all time." Hubert later became the head football and basketball coach at the Mississippi State Teachers College—now known as University of Southern Mississippi—and Virginia Military Institute. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1964.
James Eugene "Buster" Poole was an American athlete and coach. A three sport star, Poole is best remembered as an end who played football collegiately for the Ole Miss Rebels and professionally for seven seasons primarily for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). After his professional football retirement Poole also served briefly as head coach of the Ole Miss basketball team before becoming a career position coach for Johnny Vaught and the Ole Miss football team, which won two national titles during his tenure.
The 1984 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils team represented the Mississippi Valley State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Archie Cooley, the Delta Devils played their home games at Magnolia Stadium—now known as Rice–Totten Stadium—in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Mississippi Valley finished the season with an overall record of 9–2 and a mark of 6–1 in conference play, placing second in the SWAC. The team qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, losing to Louisiana Tech in the first round. With an offense led by quarterback Willie Totten and wide receiver Jerry Rice, the Delta Devils scored 628 points on the season, averaging more than 57 points per game.
McNeil "Doby" Bartling Jr. was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as head football coach at Vanderbilt University from 1944 to 1945 and at Millsaps College from 1946 to 1950, compiling a career college football record of 24–18–2. Bartling was also the head basketball coach at Millsaps from 1946 to 1951, tallying a mark of 25–63, and the head baseball coach at the school from 1947 to 1949, amassing a record of 15–31. He played football as a quarterback at the University of Mississippi. Bartling came to Vanderbilt in 1943 as an assistant coach after coaching at Meridian High School in Meridian, Mississippi.
The 1962 Ole Miss Rebels football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1962 NCAA University Division football season. In their 16th year under head coach Johnny Vaught, the Rebels compiled a perfect 10–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 247 to 53, won the SEC championship, and defeated Arkansas in the 1963 Sugar Bowl. To date, it is the only undefeated and untied season in Ole Miss football history.
The 1954 Mississippi State Maroons football team represented Mississippi State College during the 1954 college football season. This was the first season as head coach for Darrell Royal, who had previously served as an assistant for the Maroons. Royal would later win three national championships as head coach of Texas. Center Hal Easterwood was named to the FWAA/Look All-America team. Halfback Art Davis was named SEC "Player of the Year" by the Nashville Banner and Atlanta Constitution.
The 1953 Mississippi State Maroons football team was an American football team that represented Mississippi State College as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1953 college football season. In their second year under head coach Murray Warmath, the team compiled an overall record of 5–2–3, with a mark of 3–1–3 in conference play, and placed sixth in the SEC.
The 1952 Mississippi State Maroons football team represented Mississippi State College during the 1952 college football season. It was the first season as head coach for Murray Warmath, and also for quarterback Jackie Parker, who transferred to Mississippi State from Jones County Junior College. Parker rushed for 16 touchdowns in 1952, a school record that stood until Vick Ballard broke it in 2010. Parker would win his first of two SEC "Player of the Year" honors by the Nashville Banner.
The 1929 Mississippi A&M Aggies football team was an American football team that represented the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1929 college football season. In their third season under head coach John W. Hancock, Mississippi A&M compiled a 1–5–2 record.
The 1962 Jackson State Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Jackson State College for Negroes—now known as Jackson State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. In their 11th season under head coach John Merritt, the Eagles compiled an overall record of 10–1 record with a mark of 6–1 against conference opponents, won the SWAC title, defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, and outscored all opponents by a total of 411 to 101.
Peggie Gillom-Granderson is a chaplain at the University of Mississippi since 2009. Before starting her religious position, Gillom played on the Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball team between 1976 and 1980. During her time at Ole Miss, Gillom set career records for Mississippi with 2,486 points and 1,271 rebounds. After university, Gillom briefly played in the Women's Professional Basketball League for a year with the Dallas Diamonds. As an assistant coach, Gillom worked with Ole Miss from 1981 to 1997 before continuing her assistant coaching tenure in the Women's National Basketball Association. With the Houston Comets, Gillom and her team won the 1997 WNBA Championship.
Debbie Brock is an American former collegiate basketball player. During her tenure at Delta State University under coach Margaret Wade, she led the Lady Statesmen to three straight AIAW national titles while maintaining a 120–9 record.
Dorothy Faye Murphy is an American former basketball player and coach, and current junior college football assistant coach for Hinds Community College. She became the first female football coach in National Junior College Athletic Association history when she was hired to coach wide receivers at Hinds in 1984.
Robert "Big Bob" Hill was an American football and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Jackson State University from 1971 to 1976, compiling a record of 44–15–1. Hill's winning percentage of .742 is the second highest of any head coach in the history of the Jackson State Tigers football program. During his tenure at Jackson State, he mentored future Pro Football Hall of Famers Walter Payton and Jackie Slater. Hill was fired from his post during the 1976 season and replaced by his assistant, W. C. Gorden.
Diana Kay James is a color analyst for Southern Miss Lady Eagles basketball games since 2005. Before starting her radio career, James was a high school gym teacher in Ocilla, Georgia during the early 1970s. As a basketball coach for Berry College from 1972 to 1977, her women's team won the 1976 AIAW National Small College Basketball Championship. After her team were consolation game champions at the 1977 AIAW National Small College Basketball Championship, James left Berry that year with 85 wins and 20 losses.
Dennis E. Thomas is an American former gridiron football center, college football head coach, college sports athletic director, and collegiate athletic conference commissioner.
