New Albany native inducted into the NEMCC Hall of Fame

New Albany Native Robert Gordon, currently the athletic director at Myrtle was inducted into the Northeast Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame on September 22, 2022, along with Tim Cole (Men’s Basketball, 1996-98) and Lisa Jansen (Softball, 2007-08) .

NEMCC Hall of Fame: Robert Gordon (Baseball, 1992-93)

New Albany native Robert Gordon was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the W.P. Daniel High School team in 1991. He received an invitation to both the Crossroads Diamond Club and Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Better Baseball (NEMCABB) all-star games.

Gordon made his debut with the NEMCC Tigers on February 27, 1992 during a doubleheader at Jackson State (Tenn.) Gordon’s first home run at Northeast came during a 7-2 win at Shelby State (present-day Southwest Tennessee) Community College. He also had three hits and three RBIs that evening.

Northeast went on to win its final eight regular season games and secure its first then-Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division crown in over two decades.

That year, Northeast hosted the state championship series versus Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College at Harold T. White Field before participating in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 Tournament for the first time in program history.

Gordon was one of the Tigers’ top performers as a freshman, with a .306 batting average, four triples and 16 RBIs.

During his second and final season at Northeast, Gordon, who was the only returning position player in 1993, led the Tigers in most every major offensive statistical category. He had a .344 batting average with nine doubles, three home runs and 32 RBIs. He added five triples, which is still tied for the second most in a single season at Northeast.

Gordon was recognized by head coach Ray Scott with the team MVP and best batting average awards, and was also selected for the Tiger Award for his leadership and positive attitude on-and-off the diamond. He obtained NJCAA All-Region 23 distinction as a sophomore and was a two-time all-conference recipient.

He finished up his on-field career by clinching the 1996 Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) championship at Union University, in Tennessee. Gordon earned NAIA All-American, NAIA All-Region and he completed All-TCAC honors as a senior.

Gordon has spent essentially his entire tenure in education at Myrtle High School. He was the head baseball coach for 25 years and won 10 division crowns, two north half titles and the 2002 state championship. He also directed five state championship teams in 16 seasons with Myrtle’s slowpitch softball program.

Gordon’s coaching record between baseball, softball and volleyball, which he started from scratch in 2019, is 800-387-1. Gordon was picked to coach in the NEMCABB All-Star Game three times and at the Crossroads All-Star Game in 2003. He was acknowledged as the NEMCABB Class 1A-2A Coach of the Year in both 2001 and 2010.

He currently continues his long and distinguished athletics career at Myrtle. As athletic director there, he oversees 11 varsity sports.

Gordon and his wife Brooke have two children, Paxton and Kinsley.

–Information excerpted from NEMCC press release by:

Blake Long,  Sports Information Director, Northeast Mississippi Community College