ECCC’s Lucy Young joins Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) —  Lucy Young of Vicksburg is one of East Central Community College’s most accomplished athletes whose lifelong dedication to athletics and service has left a lasting impact. In recognition of her outstanding
accomplishments, she was inducted into the 2026 class of the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday, April 28, during special ceremonies held at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl.
Young’s award was presented by ECCC College President Dr. Brent Gregory. Young was a member of ECCC’s 1970 State Champion Volleyball team, 1971 State Champion Basketball team, and was a 1971 State Runner-Up in girls doubles tennis. She played before women’s sports were officially recognized by the NJCAA and was among the many young women who played simply for “love of the game.”
Young’s coaching career spanned 36 years (1974–2010) and encompassed soccer, softball, and tennis, earning her statewide and national recognition.
As a boys soccer coach for 23 years, she compiled an outstanding 258-63-16 record and retired as the winningest soccer coach in Mississippi at the time. Her teams captured numerous district, regional, and championship honors, including multiple North State and Central Mississippi titles. She was twice named Mississippi Association of Coaches Coach of the Year, selected as a Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Coach multiple times, and earned National Soccer Coach of the Year for Region 5 twice.
Young also enjoyed exceptional success coaching girls slow-pitch softball, fast-pitch softball, girls soccer, and tennis, receiving numerous Vicksburg Evening Post Coach of the Year honors and capturing several league and district titles.
In recognition of her remarkable athletic achievements as both a coach and player, she was inducted into the East Central Community College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, her impact was permanently recognized with the naming of Lucy Young Field at Warren Central High School. She is also a member of the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame (2012) and the Vicksburg Warren School District Athletic Hall of Fame (2018).
Just as important as her coaching career, Young was also a successful classroom teacher receiving Teacher of the Year honors on several occasions. She was also the recipient of the first ever Outstanding Service Award presented by the Vicksburg/Warren School District in recognition of her involvement with Adaptive Physical Education, Special Olympics, and “Special Prom,” an annual activity for students with physical and learning disabilities.
A 1969 graduate of Morton High School, Young earned her A.A. degree from East Central Junior College in 1971 before completing her B.S. degree at Mississippi State University in 1973. While at East Central, she distinguished herself as both an exceptional student-athlete and a campus leader. She made history as East Central’s first female Student
Body Association President, received the Citizenship Award, and was crowned Miss East Central Junior College.
East Central Community College is located in Decatur, Mississippi, and serves Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Winston counties.