Crandal Porter | Kiara Ruffin
Crandal Porter
Women's Head Baskeball Coach
Phone: 601-635-6372
Email: cporter@eccc.edu
Crandal Porter of Newton is the new women’s head basketball coach at East Central Community College in Decatur, announced ECCC President Dr. Billy Stewart.
Porter, who turned 38 today (July 31), succeeds Billy Smith who retired from the state system after leading the Lady Warrior program for eight years. Smith was recently named girls’ head basketball coach at Choctaw Central High School.
Dr. Stewart stated Coach Porter will be a great addition to the ECCC family.
“Coach Porter has won several state championships at Newton and is very active in his community,” said Dr. Stewart. “He brings a passion for success to the program, and the committee and I feel that he will build on the standard and tradition of excellence established by so many previous coaches. He’s dedicated and he’s committed to helping his players succeed on the court and in the classroom; and for us, that’s most important.”
Porter, a Louisville native, said taking over the Lady Warrior program is a “dream job and for it to happen on my birthday, it’s the best present I could have. I’m absolutely elated to be given this opportunity!”
The new Lady Warrior head mentor described his coaching style in one word: passionate.
“I definitely bring a lot of passion to the job,” Porter stated. “Those who have seen me coach know I bring a passion for winning and a passion for helping my players succeed. I like for my teams to play hard, to be well prepared and I think that results in victories.”
Porter served as girls’ and boys’ head basketball coach at Newton High School since 2001. He led the girls’ squad to state Class 2A titles in 2005 and 2010. His Tiger squad captured the state Class 2A championship in 2008.
He began his successful career at his alma mater Louisville High School, where he served as boys’ head basketball coach in 2000-01.
Porter has compiled an overall 494-216 record, which also includes seven division championships, three South State titles and eight tournament appearances.
Honors include The Meridian Star’s Boys’ Coach of the Year in 2000, MAC Class 2A Girls’ Coach of the Year in 2005, MS All-Star Girls’ Coach in 2005, MS All-Star Boys’ Coach in 2009 and MAC Girls’ Coach of the Year in 2010. He was selected Newton’s Citizen of the Year in 2005.
Porter received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance from Mississippi Valley State University in 1998 and earned a Master of Educational Leadership from Mississippi State University in 2010.
He has a daughter, Amber Jamerson Porter, 15.
