Coach Danny Carlisle was a native of Starkville who lettered two years in football and served as a manager for the baseball squad at Starkville High before graduating in 1971. He received collegiate degrees from Mississippi State before beginning a 34-year coaching career in 1978. He entered the coaching ranks as head coach for the Starkville Yellowjackets junior high football and basketball teams and an assistant football and baseball coach from 1979 to 1989, then became head baseball coach in 1983 launching a championship head coaching career that would span 29 seasons. Coach Carlisle guided Starkville in 823 games winning 571 contests and losing 252 for a 69% winning percentage. He coached the Yellowjackets to 6 district titles, 1 North half runner-up finish, 4 North half crowns, 1 state runner-up ending in 1988 and 3 Class 5A State championships in 1986, 1987, and 1991. Danny received numerous accolades for his coaching accomplishments including multiple MAC and District High School Baseball Coach of the Year awards, was named coach of the year by the Clarion Ledger in 1986 and 1991, and served as an All-Star coach in the Crossroads Diamond Club D.M. Howie All-Star Baseball games on several occasions. Coach Carlisle gave back to his profession by serving in several capacities with the MAC and as a past baseball committee member with the MHSAA. He also served as the state director for Mississippi Dizzy Dean Baseball and helped initiate the coach-pitch program. Coach Carlisle oversaw total baseball stadium reconstruction from 1987 to 1988, mentored over 20 assistant coaches who would serve as past and current head coaches on the high school, community college, and college baseball levels, and was inducted into the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. On March 22, 2012, the City of Starkville recognized him with a Danny Carlisle Day where his #24 jersey was retired at the school and the baseball stadium was named in his honor.