STARKVILLE — When Starkville High assistant baseball coach Ronald Campbell had an opportunity to return to his alma mater as a coach, he did not have to think twice about the invite.
Campbell, a baseball standout at the school from 1982 through 1984, is in his sixth season as an assistant coach on head coach Danny Carlisle’s staff.
Thus, it is with great emotion that Campbell and the rest of the Yellow Jackets look forward to Danny Carlisle Day Saturday on the Starkville High campus.
“I had been looking forward to the opportunity to come home for some time,” Campbell said. “I feel really blessed to have been back here and to have been a part of Coach Carlisle’s staff. I am really thankful to have been part of the final season.”
Carlisle retired from teaching and coaching at the end of the 2011 season. Working as a part-time employee, Carlisle was allowed to return to coach this final season — his 29th as head coach of the Yellow Jackets.
“I was part of his very first team in 1984,” Campbell said. “That was my senior year. We had a 22-0 regular-season record and finished 24-2. We were supposed to play for the state championship that year. However, there was a controversy on the coast and we didn’t play. The state did not recognize a state champion from that season.”
Several formal players have been invited back for a special pregame ceremony at noon Saturday at the Starkville High baseball field.
After the presentation, three games will be played.
Starkville meets Louisville at 12:30 p.m. and West Point at 4:30 p.m. Louisville and West Point will play each other at 2:30 p.m.
“Danny has meant so much to this school and so much to this athletic program,” Starkville High athletic director Dr. Stan Miller said. “We are going to do everything we can to send him out the right way.
“He has meant so much to this program and touched so many young people. He taught them how to be quality players. He also taught them how to be quality men.”
While 1984 did not exactly work out, state championship success did soon follow. Carlisle, a two-time Mississippi coach of the year, led the Jackets to the Class 5A state titles in 1986, 1987 and 1991.
“I learned so much about the game playing for him and then working under him,” Campbell said. “But I think the main thing I learned is how to deal with people.
“He was always good with relationships. He knew how to handle discipline. He was firm, yet fair. I think he has made an impact on so mnay people.”
For Campbell and twin brother Reginald, the association with Carlisle actually began before high school.
“My mother (Annette) used to baby-sit him,” Campbell said. “So I have actually known Coach Carlisle since I was little.
“He got both my brother and me involved in organized baseball. He was the reason we started playing t-ball when we were 7-years-old.
“I go way back with coach. He was a big influence on both my brother and myself.”
The Campbell brothers played from 1982 through 1984 on the varisty baseball team at Starkville. The final season was under Carlisle.
After that, the duo played together at East Mississippi Community College.
After completing his degree work at Mississippi State University, Ronald Campbell began a coaching career which included stops at Louisville High, Aberdeen High and Columbus High, before the opportunity to come back home.
“The timing was really right six years ago,” Campbell said. “I knew this was a unique opportunity to work with Coach Carlisle for however many years that he had left. I have really cherished this time together. It has been a lot of fun.”
Carlisle, a 1971 graduate of Starkville High, has more than 500 victories in his coaching career. Still, he feels the same adrenaline rush every time the bats and balls are broken out.
“You still get excited,” Carlisle said. “It is all about competing. The commpetition aspect of the game has always been fun.
“I have been blessed with a special group of players over the years. No one team stands out, but instead, I will take a lot of memories from several seasons.”
The coaching tree has been fruitful under Carlisle. Some of his former players carrying on the craft include Brad Mitchell at Ackerman High, Josh Abraham at Warren Central High and Jim Abraham at Quitman High.
“You see Coach Carlisle’s impact so many places around the state,” Campbell said. “It stretches all over and will last for a long time.”
Miller understands the impact and the legacy. He feels like Carlisle has left the program in good shape and that should help the new coach carry on the tradition.
“We have made major renovations the last couple of years,” Miller said. “The baseball program has always been a source of pride for our athletic program.
“We expect that to continue for many years to come.”
In a scheduling change, today’s Starkville High-Yazoo City baseball game has been moved to Starkville due to wet playing conditions at Yazoo City.
The teams will play one varsity game at 4:30 p.m. today.
Starkville improved to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in Class 5A, Region 3 play with a 12-0 win over Yazoo City Tuesday night, also at home.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.