Matt Hudson named Head Softball Coach at Holmes CC

The Holmes Community College Board has named Possumneck native and Holmes alumnus Matt Hudson as the new head softball coach.

After graduating from East Holmes Academy, Hudson attended Holmes Community College, where he was a member of the Holmes Connection! After Holmes, he received a bachelor’s degree from Belhaven University and is finishing his master’s degree in educational leadership from Mississippi College.

He comes to Holmes from Winona Christian School, where he served as co-head softball coach and athletic director. The Lady Stars finished the 2023 fastpitch season as the MAIS North 4A Runner Up and was a state tournament semifinalist.

“This job is not one that my family takes lightly,” Hudson said. “It is a dream job for me and my family to come back home close to where I was raised in the small community of Possumneck. I spent many summers on the campus of HCC as a kid, and it always meant a lot to me.”

“From my experiences and education, I have learned how to lead, coach, and manage not only people my age but also student-athletes by communicating briefly and making sure everyone understands the task at hand and how we need to work together to complete it effectively and safely no matter what type of situation may occur,” he said. “I have also learned from my educational background how to be patient and listen to all sides in practical ways to complete a task.”

Hudson is thankful that he’s had the opportunity to learn from some of the best coaches in the business including Bennie Kimble, Todd Kimble, Durwin Carpenter, the late Riley Myers, Ricky Casey, Trae Embry, Vann Stuedeman, David Drake, Tripp McCarty and his uncle, Wayne Hudson.

“I have gotten some instruction from them to help me in my career and who I still talk to most of them today for advice,” Hudson said. “In my lines of effective communication amongst these former coaches, I genuinely believe we can build a program with connections I’ve made through high school circuits and through the travel circuits over the years to help them choose why we love Holmes Community College so much and why I decided to come back home to run a program that I am so passionate about.”

“I’m glad to have the opportunity to recruit these young ladies from our local schools and across the country, to help teach them how to compete for championships daily but most importantly how to become better mothers, wives and family members in their future endeavors,” he said. “We are excited to teach and coach these young ladies on my coaching philosophies branded as ‘baseball on Red Bull’ which is to play at full speed and with a ‘No Mercy attitude’. As Always, God Bless and Go Dogs!”

Hudson is thankful to Holmes for the opportunity. “Special thanks to Dr. Jim Haffey, Coach Andy Wood and the Holmes Community College Board of Trustees for allowing me this great opportunity to lead a program at a school that we are all so passionate about.”  

Prior to Winona, Hudson was at Pillow Academy from 2013-2020 and made his coaching mark in many sports for the Mustangs including softball, baseball, football and basketball. From 2013-16, he had a combined record of 85-16. His teams were 4A State runners up from 2013-16. He sent many players on the next level in softball either Division I, Division II or at the Juco level. He was named 2014 4A MAIS Coach of the Year and the MAIS North All-Star Head Coach.

Before going to Pillow, Hudson served as head coach on U8-U18 travel teams for US, USSSA, USFA, Dizzy Dean, ASA and NSA. He competed and won world series titles with numerous Mississippi state titles during the five-year span.

Hudson and his wife, Angela, live in Carrollton and have two children, Anna Taylor, a senior at Mississippi State and Lolo, a second grader. Angela is a cardiology nurse practitioner at Greenwood Leflore Hospital.

“Special thanks to my family — my parents, JD and Mary Hudson; my wife, Angela; and my two girls, Anna Taylor and Lolo for always supporting me on long nights and always being my biggest fans,” said Hudson.