Ole Miss Basketball announces the passing of Rebels trailblazer Coolidge Ball

On Tuesday, Ole Miss basketball announced the death of its first Black student-athlete, Coolidge Ball. He was 71 years old.

Ball tallied 1,072 points during his varsity career, boosting the Rebels to three-straight winning seasons for the first time since 1936-38. For his efforts, Ball was named team captain and MVP honors.

During his outstanding career, Ball also earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from the league coaches in 1972 and 1973. Additionally, the Mississippi native earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press in 1972 and 1973, was selected to the United Press International third team during all three of his varsity seasons (1972-73-74) and made the All-SEC Freshman team in 1970-71.

The Ole Miss Family lost its greatest trailblazer today.

Rest In Peace, Coolidge Ball pic.twitter.com/RubsgOsvjz

— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) August 29, 2023

In May 2021, Ole Miss unveiled a bronze statue of Ball in The Pavilion Plaza. Ball was thrilled by the honor.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Ball said, per Ole Miss’ website. “I’m excited about having a statue. I never dreamed of having one, and I thank the University for it.”

In 1991, Ball was inducted into Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame. Just 17 years later, Ball was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. And, of course, when the program celebrated its “First 100 Years of Ole Miss Basketball” in 2009, Ball was named to the All-Century Team.

“Our university is forever indebted to Coolidge Ball for the courage he showed 50 years ago,” vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics Keith Carter said in 2021. “With this strength, humility and kindness, Coolidge provided a beacon of light for our community while setting an example for generations of student-athletes, both on and off the court. We are eternally grateful to Coolidge for his contributions to civil rights and for his leadership for Ole Miss.”

Ball’s contribution to Mississippi didn’t stop after his basketball career. In 1979, Ball created the Ball Sign Company upon his return to Oxford after a four-year stint coaching basketball at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Ball continued to run the company until the time of his death.

“He’s inspired even me,” Ole Miss women’s basketball head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said in an interview with Ole Miss during Ball’s statue dedication. “And the type of legacy that I want to leave for my children and the people that come behind me.”

Ball’s impact on the program will last forever. The trailblazer paved the way for the Black athletes who came after him and will continue to exceed in the future.