Senate Concurrent Resolution 656

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING INGOMAR HIGH SCHOOL COACH NORRIS ASHLEY, MISSISSIPPI'S WINNINGEST BOYS BASKETBALL COACH, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, after more than 40 years pacing the sidelines, Mississippi's winningest boys basketball coach is calling it quits; and

WHEREAS, President Richard Nixon was in the White House and those Amazin' Mets won their first World Series when Norris Ashley launched his coaching career in 1969. Little did Coach Ashley realize that, 40 seasons later, he would become the winningest coach in Mississippi boys basketball history; and

WHEREAS, Coach Ashley, 64, finished his career with 1,698 victories and 858 losses (1,023-484 as a boys coach and 675-374 coaching girls teams). He surpassed Sam Richey, 68, who went 904-414 at Jumpertown, Wheeler and Baldwyn and won six State Championships from 1967-2005; and

WHEREAS, Ashley's stellar career includes nine State Championships (five boys and four girls) and one Grand Slam. He was named The Clarion-Ledger's Girls Coach of the Year in 1994 and Boys Coach of the Year in 2010; and

WHEREAS, Ashley's coaching career began at Coahoma County in 1969. He spent two seasons there before taking over at Ingomar, where he remained for the next 41 seasons; and

WHEREAS, "The thing I'll remember is the players I had," said Ashley. "They wanted to succeed and that made me work hard all these years. I felt like I was letting them down if I didn't push them. I got energy and motivation from them. I'm proud of the fact that we never played down at Ingomar. When you're 1A, you always had to play even or up. We held our own against the Harrison Centrals and Tupelos. We won nine State Titles in basketball and lost eight. We also played and lost in three baseball finals. That's 20 times in the finals. That's more than anybody deserves"; and

WHEREAS, all-time coaching victories in Mississippi boys basketball history are:

RECORD COACH

· 1023-484 Norris Ashley

Coahoma County, Ingomar

· 904-414 Sam Richey

Jumpertown, Wheeler, Baldwyn

· 867-326 Roland Ladner

Sellers, Harrison Central,

Hancock, Pearl River Central

· 866-180 Bert Jenkins

Gulfport

· 980-440 Isaiah Peterson (Active)

Shelby Broad Street, Coahoma County; and

WHEREAS, Ashley will pass the torch to his son, Jonathan Ashley, who spent the past six seasons as Head Coach at Myrtle. "I had always wanted my son to come in and take my place," said Ashley. "He'll do a good job with the talent here and he'll take them a little higher than I could"; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we note the accomplishments of this legendary North Mississippi Basketball Coach who has brought honor to his school and community and whose spirit has enriched the lives of all his students and colleagues:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend Ingomar High School Coach Norris Ashley, Mississippi's winningest High School Basketball Coach, on the occasion of his retirement after 43 years of Championship Coaching, and extend our best wishes to Coach Ashley and his family in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Ashley, forwarded to the Principal of Ingomar High School and the Union County School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.