Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2025

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame revealed the inductees for the Class of 2025 on Tuesday.

The eight members of the Class of 2025 are Scott Berry, Steve Freeman, Mike Justice, Dexter McCluster, Derrick Nix, Steve Rives, Robbie Webb and Mo Williams.

Berry was the head baseball coach at Southern Miss for 14 seasons and led the Golden Eagles to nine NCAA tournament appearances. Berry retired from coaching after the 2023 season and currently serves as Assistant AD for Community Relations.

“It’s a humbly honored day for me and I share it with every player and coach along the way the 34 years I spent at Mississippi State,” Berry said. “Certainly everyone’s journey is not a walk in and of itself, and that walk, and that journey, has been with a lot of people that I’m grateful for.”

Freeman was a defensive back at Mississippi State from 1971 to 1974 and played 13 seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. After retiring from football, Freeman became an official and has played in the NFL since 2001.

Justice is a highly decorated American football coach. Over 35 years, Justice had a 297-98 record with four state championships. Justice has coached at Calhoun City, Louisville, Madison Central, Gulfport and Oxford (Ala.).

McCluster was an all-around player at Ole Miss from 2006 to 2009, and has the second-most all-purpose yards in Rebels history with 4,089. He played seven seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans and San Diego Chargers.

“Today is amazing to be part of something so special,” he said. “In 2006, when I arrived here, I was 17 years old. I never thought this day would happen, but what is ordained and what it means is destined to happen. So I’m elated, happy and excited about this opportunity.”

Nix was a running back at Southern Miss from 1998 to 2002, and totaled more than 1,000 yards in each of the three seasons he played for the Golden Eagles. Nix was forced to retire from football due to kidney disease, but has been a college football coach since 2003 at Southern Miss, Ole Miss and currently Auburn.

Rives, a legendary basketball coach, has more than 700 career victories in high school and college. Rives’ most notable coaching stops were at Jackson Prep and Delta State, and is the Delta State Hall of Fame.

“Just a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure it would happen. When Bill called, I’ll never forget, I was thrilled to talk to him on the phone because it meant so much to me. I had only observed it from the outside, looking in, and now I’m in and I’m very proud of it,” he said.

Webb is also in the Mississippi Golf Association Hall of Fame and is known as the “Godfather of Golf.” Webb is a former Southern Miss and PGA golfer and founded and coached the MRA golf team. Webb coached junior golfers in Mississippi and has an award named after him, given to individuals who have dedicated their time and resources to junior golf.

Williams graduated from Murrah High School in 2002 and played two seasons at Alabama before declaring for the NBA Draft. He played 15 seasons for eight teams and won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015-16 season. Williams has been the head coach of the Jackson State men’s basketball team since 2022.

“This day means everything to me. It was something, when I got the phone call, it was really breathtaking, I was speechless, I just didn’t know how to react, I kind of told everyone in my family, very excited. For this opportunity to come along, especially at this time in my life, it really puts into perspective the work you’ve done in the past.”

The Class of 2025 will be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame on August 2, 2025.

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