Clarence Weatherspoon Named Head Men's Basketball Coach at Meridian Community College

Meridian, MS – Meridian Community College (MCC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Clarence Weatherspoon as the new head coach of the Men's Basketball team. Weatherspoon brings a wealth of experience and an impressive basketball pedigree to MCC.

Weatherspoon's coaching career includes serving as an assistant coach for the Jones College Bobcats for the past two years, as an assistant coach at Southern Miss from 2016 to 2022, and as a volunteer assistant coach role at Ridgeland High School.

"If you know basketball—at any level—you know Clarence Weatherspoon. Clarence has made a significant mark on the game as a high school player at Motley High School in Columbus, MS, a college player at USM, a 13-year NBA professional, and a D1 and community college assistant. He has proudly represented his home state at all stops in his career. He is a perfect fit for where we want to go at Meridian Community College. His vision for MCC basketball is exciting, and I believe he will build on the important foundations established by Coach Green. The future of MCC Eagle basketball is in good hands," said president Tom Huebner.

Coach Weatherspoon said, "I'm excited and thankful for this opportunity to become the next Head Men's Basketball Coach at Meridian Community College. I want to thank President Tom Huebner, Athletic Director Sander Atkinson, and especially Coach Green for giving me this chance to become a head coach and a member of the MCC family. I say thank you to my wife Hazel, my kids, and all the coaches, family, and friends who supported me on this journey, especially Coach James Granderson, Coach M.K. Turk, and Coach Newton Mealer."

Weatherspoon's basketball journey is storied and distinguished. A standout player under M.K. Turk with the USM Golden Eagles, he scored 2,130 points, the second all-time in school history. As a senior, Weatherspoon averaged 22.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, with career averages of 18.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. He led the Golden Eagles to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances in 1990 and 1991.

As a player, his accolades include being the only three-time Metro Conference Player of the Year and the all-time leading rebounder in conference history. As an amateur, Weatherspoon represented Team USA in the Goodwill Games, earning a silver medal, and the Pan American Games, securing a bronze.

Weatherspoon was selected ninth overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He made an immediate impact, setting a rookie franchise record with 1,290 points and achieving 45 double-doubles in his second year, the seventh-most in the history of the NBA. Over his 13-year NBA career, he averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, playing for Philadelphia, Golden State, Miami, Cleveland, New York, and Houston. He also made a memorable appearance in the 1993 Slam Dunk Contest, finishing second.

Weatherspoon, a native of Crawford, Mississippi, earned his degree from Southern Miss in 1993. He and his wife, Hazel, have two sons, Clay and Bryant, and a daughter, Simone.

For more information about the Men's Basketball program, contact coach Weatherspoon at Clarence.Weatherspoon@meridiancc.edu.