CLARKSDALE, Miss. - Former Coahoma Community College head football coach and athletic director Freeman Horton will be inducted into the 2026 Sports Hall of Fame class in Clarksdale, Mississippi, honoring his historic program leadership.
Horton joined Coahoma Community College in 2001 and guided the football program through 2014, securing 35 victories and leading the Tigers to national prominence. His tenure reached a peak during the 2009 season when the Tigers finished with a 6-3 record, marking the program's first winning season in more than three decades and its first appearance in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges football playoffs.
During that historic 2009 campaign, Coahoma finished second in the MACJC North Division and recorded the program's highest single-season victory total since 1975. The Tigers ranked second in the division in total offense and fifth in pass defense. Horton was named the 2009 MACJC Football Coach of the Year, becoming the first Coahoma coach to earn the distinction, while his staff won Coaching Staff of the Year. The team's performance secured Coahoma's first preseason national Top 25 ranking entering the 2010 season.
Beyond the record, 32 members of the 2009 team earned scholarships to continue their careers at NCAA Division I or Division II institutions. The entire 2009 squad was officially inducted into the Coahoma Community College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. Horton consistently developed talent for four-year programs, producing standouts such as Terrance Conner and Leroy Banks at the University of Southern Mississippi, Darone Bailey at the University of Mississippi, Christopher Pugh at Louisiana Tech University, and Sylvester Townes at West Virginia University.
Serving as athletic director, Horton advanced Coahoma Community College Athletics by supporting construction and renovation work at the baseball and softball complex and improving the football stadium press box. He strengthened community relationships through the CCC Booster Club and a community football camp, while establishing the campus Fellowship of Christian Athletes program to build character outside of competition. Horton also served as chairman of the MACJC athletic directors and coached in multiple MACJC Football All-Star Games.
Horton established his football background as a 1975 graduate of Lake High School in Scott County, where he helped lead the 1974 team to an undefeated, unscored upon season. The Hornets defense did not allow a single point all year, outscoring opponents 321-0. He earned a scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi, becoming a three-year starter at linebacker and an early member of the celebrated "Nasty Bunch" defense. Horton earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Miss.
His extensive coaching background includes roles at Newton High School, East Central Community College, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, and the National Football League's New York Giants. Before arriving at Coahoma, he served as head coach at Rosa Fort High School in Tunica County, guiding the program to an 8-2 campaign in 2000. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Horton's induction into the 2026 Coahoma Community College Sports Hall of Fame honors a career defined by athletic achievement, institutional leadership, and dedicated service to the young men and women who represented the Tigers.
The induction ceremony will take place during the Homecoming halftime festivities.
About Coahoma Community College Founded in 1949, Coahoma Community College is a public, comprehensive, historically Black community college serving the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Coahoma offers Associate of Arts degrees, Associate of Applied Science degrees, and specialized certificates across dozens of diverse academic and career pathways. Located on a 99-acre campus in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the College is celebrating 77 years of academic excellence. In addition to its affordable tuition and generous scholarship opportunities, Coahoma has earned widespread recognition in nursing and health sciences, career-technical education, and university transfer programs. Outside of the classroom, students are involved in competitive NJCAA athletics as well as a variety of organizations and clubs, including student government, the celebrated college choir, and the renowned Marching Maroon Typhoon.
