Green going into Hall of Fame

A statewide association is honoring four more giants in the field of athletic administration and education, and one of those is Marshall County’s own Karen Green.

The Mississippi Athletic Administrators Association recently announced who will join the MAAA Hall of Fame as members of the next class. Green will be the first woman inducted.

The luncheon will be held Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at the IP Casino in Biloxi.

“I’m really thrilled and honored,” Green said. “It’s hard to put into words.” She retired from Potts Camp High School in 2012. Under her leadership as athletic director, the following programs were established — softball (both slow and fast pitch), cross country, track and field, football, archery and soccer.

Probably the biggest addition to the athletic program was the building of the sports complex. It includes a football field with press box, track, softball field, baseball field and field house with concession stand.

In her coaching career, she coached at Pascagoula High School, the University of Mississippi, Mt. Pleasant Christian Academy and Potts Camp. At Potts Camp, she was athletic director from 1995-2012. She also served as Marshall County School District athletic director from November 2012 to December 2016.

Her years as a coach and athletic director totaled 27 and a half.

The MAAA Hall of Fame is still in its infant stages, established in 2017. This group will up the number of inductees to 11.

Entering the Hall of Fame with Green will be Lonnie Tillman, Woody Barnett and Lynn Moore.

“To be going in with this class is special for me,” Green said. “They are three tremendous men who have done a lot for athletics in our state.”

Previously inducted members of the Hall of Fame are Robert Turnage, Roy Garcia, Jerry Alexander, William “Pop” Allen, Ennis Proctor, N.Z. Bryant and Lindy Callahan.

“I’m truly honored to be amongst all of them,” she said. “It’s really something special.” Green graduated from Mississippi State College for Women in 1973 with a B.S. Degree. While at “The W,” she played on the junior varsity volleyball team and the varsity basketball team from 19691972. In 1971, “The W” won the national championship, and in 1972 the team made the final four of the National Championship Tournament. She attended graduate school at the University of Mississippi in 1974-75.

Some highlights of her coaching career — cross country and track and field combined ­ include 10 state championships, eight state runner-ups, eight north half championships, 14 regional championships and 26 district championships.

A few of her many professional honors include Potts Camp High School Teacher of the Year in 1997-98, Mississippi Association of Coaches Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1998, MAC Track and Field Coach of the Year 2001 and Mississippi High School Activities Association Athletic Director of the Year in 2010. She was also National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association South Sectional Region Coach of the Year in track and field in 2002 and received the NIAAA State Award of Merit in 2009.

Green and her husband, Jerry, live in Potts Camp. They have two sons and eight grandchildren. Michael and his wife, Leah, have three children, Wesley, Morgan and Ava Gail. Matthew and his wife Ashley have five children, Logan, Maddie, Jackson, Lucas and Rhett.

In retirement, she enjoys spending time with family and traveling.