STARKVILLE — Upon Lee Berryhill’s move to Starkville Academy to coach the Vols softball program in June 2020, his public school coaching career came to an end.
For nearly three decades at three different stops, Berryhill coached both baseball and softball, winning seven total state championships along the way.
He would subsequently be nominated for a spot in the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame, only to have his paperwork lost in the chaos of the Covid year.
His name finally got on the ballot in 2022 and in his second year of eligibility, Berryhill earned a spot in the MAC’s Hall of Fame Class of 2024, first announced earlier this month.
“I was honored,” Berryhill said. “Myself and a lot of other coaches, we don’t do this for us or think about ourselves. It’s just what we do. We love sports, love being around kids and try to do the best we can to try to be successful.”
Twenty five of his 26 years coaching at public schools in Mississippi were split between Eupora High School and most recently, East Webster High School.
Berryhill had a robust 17-year coaching career with the Eagles, sticking to baseball at the time before he made the move to both slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball upon his move to East Webster.
Berryhill found success early and took it with him everywhere he has been, including his time with the Vols, where Starkville Academy has been one of the best Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Class 5A programs.
“It all has turned out well,” Berryhill said. “I’ve been very blessed, very fortunate to have had the opportunities that I’ve had and to be surrounded by the people I’ve been surrounded by everywhere I’ve been at.”
Berryhill understands that an honor like this, especially after three decades of coaching, makes a person take a step back to appreciate where they’ve been, what they’ve done and who they’ve helped shape.
In a profession marked by high turnover, Berryhill has stayed the course and positively impacted thousands of Mississippians.
“You look back at it and as they say, ‘Time flies,’” Berryhill said. “For me, it definitely has. When you’re in the moment, it doesn’t seem to be going by that fast, but when you reflect back, you don’t know where the time went. … It’s about being around good people that makes the time go by at every stop.”
Berryhill will be inducted next June along with Mike Chambless, Gene Delcomyn, Michael Fields, Jerry Long and Harold Liggans.
His MHSAA career behind him, Berryhill, who just finished his fourth season at Starkville Academy, doesn’t plan on hanging up his cleats anytime soon.
“We’re growing,” Berryhill said. “I’m enjoying my time here at Starkville Academy. … As long as I am still enjoying it and being productive, helping out the kids, I plan on being here.”
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