James Green retires from Meridian Community College after revitalizing the program.

Meridian, MS – Meridian Community College (MCC) announces the retirement of James Green, the head coach of the MCC Eagles men's basketball team, effective June 30, 2024. Coach Green, who has led the Eagles since 2016, is celebrated for revitalizing the basketball program and leading the team to unprecedented success.

Coach Green said, "I would like to thank my players, coaches, and our administration for some wonderful years working at MCC. It was an opportunity to participate in a program in my home state that has tremendously impacted my career and life."

Coach Green took over a struggling team that had only achieved four wins the season before he arrived. His plan focused on recruiting players who fit the culture he envisioned for MCC basketball, emphasizing teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. Under his guidance, the Eagles demonstrated remarkable improvement year after year.

Coach Green's plan for the Eagles was realized during the 2020-2021 season when the Eagles made their first appearance in the Region 23 final since 1999. Although they did not clinch the championship, Coach Green's exceptional leadership was recognized as he was named MACCC Coach of the Year by his peers. Building on this momentum, in the following season, the Eagles won the Region 23 Championship and secured a bid to the NJCAA National Tournament; these accomplishments marked significant milestones, as both were firsts since 1999. This time, Coach Green was recognized as the NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year. Coach Green also achieved back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in the program's history.

President Tom Huebner said of Green, "Coach James Green is a legend in the coaching profession, and I can't say enough about what he's done at Meridian Community College. He has, without a doubt, put MCC basketball back on the map. More importantly, though, he has invested himself in the lives of countless young men, and his pursuit of excellence has made a difference in ways that can't be easily measured. We are thankful he chose to spend important years of his career in Meridian and wish him well as he retires."