SAM RICHEY, ONCE THE WINNINGEST BOYS BASKETBALL COACH IN MISSISSIPPI, PASSES AWAY AT AGE 83 – By Robert Wilson

Jul 20, 2021

By Robert Wilson

Sam Richey, once the winningest high school boys basketball coach in Mississippi, has passed away at age 83 after a lengthy illness, according to Gene Phelps of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

Richey won 913 games and six state championships from 1967-2008 at Jumpertown, Wheeler, Baldwyn and Mantachie. He became the winningest boys basketball coach in 2002 when he won his 868th game and passed Roland Ladner. Richey held that distinction until 2006 when Norris Ashley passed him. Ashley won 1,023 games from 1969-2012.

Madison-Ridgeland Academy coach Richard Duease is now the winningest boys coach with 1,342 wins and enters his 47th season this fall. James Crain, who retired in 2020 after winning the MAIS Overall championship for Simpson Academy, is the second winningest at 1,038. Ashley is third, Isaiah Peterson, who retired in 2009, is fourth at 934 and Richey is fifth at 913.Please pray for Richey’s family, friends and former players during this time.

About The Author

Robert Wilson

Robert Wilson is a national award winning sportswriter, author, publisher and editor from Jackson, Miss. He won dozens of awards on the national, regional and state levels in his 23 years as a sportswriter for The Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Daily News, covering high school and college sports and writing a tennis column. Wilson also produced Victories in Metro Jackson, a Christian sports publication. He co-authored a book with Dr. Joe Haynes about the life of Dr. Haynes, who was the first black football official in the SEC and was an NFL official and a Mississippi educator for several decades. Wilson is well known among Mississippians for his ability to paint a picture of the subject he is writing about and not only about their ability, but about their personality as well. Wilson is a Jackson Wingfield High, Hinds Community College and Ole Miss graduate.