Black athletes drive the success of sports at Ole Miss, but this was not always the case. It was not until Coolidge Ball signed his national letter of intent in 1970 to play for the men’s basketball team that the athletic color barrier was finally broken at UM, eight years after the university desegregated.
“(Ball’s legacy) is monumental,” Zach Graham, who played basketball for Ole Miss from 2007 to 2011, said. “He paved the first footsteps of opportunity for us; that deserves the utmost respect.”
Ball, born on Nov. 6, 1951, in Indianola, Miss., signed on to play forward for Head Coach Cob Jarvis at Ole Miss. It was not his only offer: Ball was also sought after by New Mexico State University Assistant Coaches Rob Evans and Ed Murphy, as well as by Jackson State University Head Coach Paul Covington.
By signing to play at Ole Miss, however, Ball paved the way for countless Black athletes to follow in his footsteps.
“The amount of inner strength, mentally and physically, he (possessed) and the daily challenges and adversity he faced –– we athletes today could never imagine,” Graham said. “So, it’s a responsibility not just for ourselves, but out of respect for him, our heritage and the game itself that we take character and integrity onto the court at Ole Miss and put our everything into the game.”
After a successful career in Oxford, averaging 16.8 points and 10.3 rebounds over three years –– all while securing a selection to the 1971 All-SEC Freshman Team and the ALL-SEC Second Team in 1972, not to mention his statue in front of the Pavillion that was unveiled in May 2021 –– Ball passed away last year on Aug. 9 at the age of 71.
“Emily (Boyce) and I are saddened by the news of Coolidge Ball’s passing,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. “He was a pioneer and a trailblazer whose immense courage opened the door for countless student-athletes at our university and in our state. Coolidge was widely respected for his strength, humility and kindness and will always be remembered as an extraordinary source of inspiration.”
Black athletes make up the majority of student-athletes on campus, and much of that can be attributed to Ball’s unwavering confidence: His prowess at basketball further proved to those wanting to rollback desegregation exactly why Black athletes belong in college sports.
“Attending Ole Miss as a Black student is something I’ve learned to be proud of. This university is home to a welcoming community and endless opportunities that embraces diversity and people from different backgrounds,” Ryan Augustine, a sophomore allied health studies major said. “Along with (James) Meredith, Ball helped cultivate this environment at Ole Miss that allows Black students to feel valued and accepted, and that is still evident today.”
Because of Ball’s legacy, athletes come to Ole Miss looking to carry on the mission he so bravely started and to continue blazing new trails for the future of Black athletes who may decide to call Oxford home in the years to come.
“Being Black in general comes with its own challenges. Having the ability to play the sport I love is a blessing and comes with its own challenges that all athletes face,” Graham said. “But there were people known and unknown who weren’t athletes that marched, ran, fought and endured much more than I ever will as an athlete. I’m super grateful and try to never forget that I have the ability to choose what I do because of the people who created opportunities to change.”
The future of Ole Miss Basketball, athletics in general and the overall student population lies in the willingness of Black athletes and students to continue making an impact on Ole Miss.
“As a Black athlete, I stand as one, but represent an entire community,” Graham said.
