Bio

Carolyn Patterson

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (1996-2001) / Coach (Softball, Basketball)
Ellisville, Mississippi

Carolyn Patterson of Ellisville became the assistant basketball coach and softball coach at MGCCC in 1996. Patterson signed on as assistant coach of the Lady Bulldogs basketball team under head coach Greg Holmes. She also became the head coach of the MGCCC softball team. After aiding Holmes in winning the 2000 South Division and State Championship in basketball, Patterson turned her attention to softball.  

When she began her first softball season in Spring 1997, the team was in disarray. The 1996 record of eight losses and no wins had placed the team at the point of dissolution. Patterson instilled discipline in the team and in the face of controversial calls and defeat, she set a record of 10 wins and 18 losses. 

In 2000, Patterson’s Lady Bulldogs won South Division and the State/National Junior College Athletic Association Region 23 Tournament at New Albany. This was the last junior college slow-pitch softball tournament in Mississippi history.

In 2001, MGCCC retooled for fast-pitch softball and Patterson’s bulldogs won second place in the South Division. Then the team caught fire, winning the State/NJCAA Region 23 title against Co-Lin. The team then defeated Murray State of Oklahoma at the NJCAA District J Championship. The Lady Bulldogs finished fifth at Phoenix, Arizona, at the NJCAA Division II World Series. 

Among her accolades Patterson was two-time Mississippi Junior College Softball Coach of the Year; two-time NJCAA Region 23 Junior College Softball Coach of the Year; and two-time NJCAA District J Junior College Softball Coach of the Year.