TIMOTHY POLLARD Inducted into Mississippi Association of Community College Sports Hall of Fame. “The fans gave me the confidence to make me believe in myself. Whenever I jumped to shoot the ball, the fans would stand up in the gym and shout woo-hoo!” This is one memory Timothy Pollard will never forget. Pollard’s legacy not only lives on the campus of Coahoma Community College but in the hearts of Clarksdale residents. Just when fans believed he could not make them any prouder, he achieved more glorious points with all the hard work he exhibited while being a Tiger. Pollard was inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020. The award ceremony began in 2007 with an aim to highlight and recognize outstanding coaches and athletes from community and junior colleges for their tremendous success. Amazingly, Pollard was chosen not only for his accomplishments as a player, but also for his contributions as an assistant coach at Coahoma from 1990-1994.
Pollard said he became overwhelmed with joy when he received the news that he was going to be inducted. “It was a dream that came true for a small country boy like me. It is such a big honor to be recognized by the entire state of Mississippi,” said Pollard. The former Tiger was born in Jonestown, Mississippi, and his family moved to Friars Point when he was five. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard attended Coahoma Community College from 1985 to 1987 and made his everlasting mark on the entire Mississippi Junior College Athletic Association (MJCAA) by being named the best three-point shooter in the association. Pollard averaged 22.5 points during his freshman year and 24 points during his sophomore year as a Tiger. His extensive performances while attending Coahoma are proof that Pollard deserves to have his name written in the MACJC Hall of Fame. Due to COVID-19, there was no inperson award ceremony, but
Coahoma Community College president Valmadge T. Towner invited Pollard to campus to personally award him for such a great accomplishment. “The president and I went to Coahoma together, and for him to personally present me with my award, it made me feel extremely special and appreciated,” said Pollard. When Pollard left Coahoma in 1987, he kept his talents in the Magnolia State and enrolled to be a Delta Devil at Mississippi Valley State University. There, he would receive national attention as he dominated the country in 3-point field goals. He credits his foundation at Coahoma for transitional success at Mississippi Valley. “Coahoma was my foundation; Coach James Washington believed in me and gave me an opportunity to shoot that ball. Coahoma prepared me for Valley because I started working on my ball handling skills, my jumps. They woke me up at 4 every morning to practice my 3-point
shots,” exclaimed Pollard. The Hall of Famer is hoping his award will motivate young basketball players to choose Coahoma. “With me being inducted, it proves success is possible. I am from Coahoma, so they can do it too. You don’t have to go to a D1 school to be recognized, just work on your skills and you can go anywhere after Coahoma,” said Pollard. Pollard currently lives in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and enjoys visiting campus to admire the growth of the college. He says, “I am always in awe when I visit the campus. The Pinnacle gives me chills, and I am so proud of all the updates being completed at Coahoma.” Pollard believes Coahoma Community College is on the right track to create successful athletes who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, like him, in years to come.
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