Championship coaches, players highlight Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020
The Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame has announced that it will induct 13 new members in the Class of 2020.
The group is loaded with former and current coaches and players with championship resumes at Gulfport and Harrison Central High School.
The induction ceremony will be held on June 13 at the Lyman Community Center.
Gulfport Hall’s Class of 2020
▪ Leonard Bennett — Former Gulfport basketball standout who won two state champions playing for legendary Admirals coach Bert Jenkins. He played in college from 1989-92 at the University of New Orleans.
▪ Rodrick Caples — Former Gulfport football player who played college ball at Jackson State.
▪ Glen Dewease — Played baseball at Gulfport East and from 1979-80 at Southern Miss.
▪ Chester Fairley — Played basketball at Gulfport in the 1970’s and competed on the college level at Tougaloo.
▪ Brian Garriga — Was the quarterback for Gulfport’s 1972 state championship football team under head coach Leon Regal. He also played quarterback at Louisiana-Monroe in 1975-76.
▪ Carolyn Graham — State championship basketball player at Harrison Central, played college ball at Xavier-New Orleans.
▪ Francisco “Boo” Hardy — A former Gulfport High School basketball standout who played under Steve Knight at William Carey. He is currently on a successful run as the Harrison Central boys basketball coach.
▪ Leroy Hardy — Won a state championship as the Gulfport head baseball coach in 1985 and served as a long-time football assistant for the Admirals.
▪ Marcus Lawton — The Harrison Central baseball standout was drafted by the New York Mets and played for the New York Yankees in 1989.
▪ Tom Luke, Sr. — An All-Big 8 football player under Coach Lindy Callahan at Gulfport High School. At Ole Miss, he played from 1964-66 for coach Johnny Vaught. He is the father of Tom Luke Jr. and Matt Luke, who also played at Ole Miss and have been inducted into the Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame.
▪ Bobby Miketinas — Starting offensive tackle for the 1977 Gulfport football team that won a state title. He played college football at Mississippi State.
▪ Jimmy Parker — He holds four state championships as the fast-pitch softball coach at Harrison Central High School.
▪ Danny Pringle — After playing football at Gulfport East, he played defensive end at Louisiana-Monroe in 1978-79.
