Coach Charles Faulkner was a championship football coach at Okolona. Coach Faulkner is a Clarksdale native who graduated from Bobo High and was Honorable Mention All-Big Eight football star. He received his degree from Mississippi College and was a 4-year letterman on the Choctaw gridiron team. Charles won the state middleweight Golden Gloves boxing championship while in college. He started his coaching career at Bruce, then moved to Okolona, Charleston, and Alcorn Central before returning to Okolona in 1980. Coach Faulkner coached the Chieftains to 6 division crowns, 4 bowl games, and a perfect season in 1993 to clinch the Class 2A state championship. In 15 years, he led Okolona to perfect seasons in 1987, 1988, 1991, and 1993. Overall, his teams won 166 games with 122 losses out of 288 contests played for 57% winning mark. He received numerous Coach of the Year awards. Charles served as MAC President in 1993-94. He coached in the MS/AL All-Star game on two occasions as an assistant in 1992 and head coach in 1994. Charles coached in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic in 1991 as an assistant and in 1993 as head coach. At time of MAC induction, still served as full-time athletic director and coach at Quitman.