Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2025

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame unveiled the inductees to the Class of 2025 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 following the 2023 season, and currently serves as the Assistant AD for Community Relations.

“It is just a humbly honored day for me, and I share it with all the players and coaches along the way, the 34 years that I had in the state of Mississippi,” Berry said. “Certainly, everybody’s journey isn’t a walk by itself, and this walk, and this journey, was with several 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 officiated in the NFL since 2001.

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

McCluster was an all-purpose player at Ole Miss from 2006 to 2009, and is has the second-most all-purpose yards in Rebel 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, just being a part of something so special,” he said. “Back in 2006, when I first came here, I was 17 years old. I never thought about this day happening, but what’s ordained, and what’s meant, is meant to be. 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 rushing in each of the three seasons he played for the Golden Eagles. Nix was forced to retire from football due to a kidney disease, but has been a college football coach since 2003 with Southern Miss, Ole Miss, and, currently, Auburn.

Rives, a legendary basketball coach, has more than 700 career wins across 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 matter of weeks ago, I wasn’t sure this would happen. When Bill called, I’ll never forget, I got emotional talking to him on the phone, because it meant so much to me. I’d only observed this from the outside looking in, and now I’m in, and I’m very proud of this,” 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, awarded to individuals who have given of 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 minced for words, just didn’t know how to react, I just kind of told everbody in my family, just excited. For this opportunity to come about, especially at this point in my life, it really puts into perspective the work you put in in the past.”

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

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