SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Monday. 

“This honor is humbling and very much appreciated,” Stephens said of his induction. “This accomplishment lends credence to the outstanding players and assistant coaches we’ve been fortunate enough to have grace our campus through the years. None of this happens without our great players and coaches in addition to the administrative support we’ve received here at East Mississippi.”

Stephens was named head coach of the Lions after the 2007 season and has a 148-28 record at the helm since the 2008 season, a winning percentage of .841. On his watch, the team has won five NJCAA national championships, nine Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference state titles and 11 MACCC North Division titles.

In 2024, the Lions finished the regular season 5-4 with a 4-2 conference record, winning four of their last five games to get above .500 after a slow start to the year. With the strong finish, the Lions have finished above .500 in 16 of Stephens’ 17 seasons in charge. 

“I would like to congratulate Coach Buddy Stephens on being inducted into the NJCAA Football Coaches Hall of Fame,” EMCC Director of Athletics Sharon Thompson said in a university release. “This outstanding accomplishment is very deserving considering the numerous NJCAA national titles that EMCC has won under his guidance. He is one of the best to ever do it on the NJCAA level.”