Acclaimed championship football & track coach at Picayune, Weir, and Louisville. Coach Gant was born in Vaiden and he was 1971 graduate of Vaiden High. He was a state JUCO pole vault and hurdle champion at Holmes CC where he was voted Most Athletic. Coach Gant was also a track star at Mississippi State in 1974 & 1975 where he participated in pole vault and decathlon in national and SEC meets. He began his 25-year coaching career in 1975 at Picayune as head football coach of the junior high squad. He coached for 23 years at Weir from 1976 to 2000 where he built a powerhouse Class 1A football program Joe led Weir to 5 state championships in 1984, 1985, 1994, 1996, and 1997 and paced the Lions gridiron team to state runner-up finishes in 1992 & 1995 and 16 playoff appearances including 14 in a row from 1987-2000. His teams compiled an overall record of 231-54 for an 81% winning percentage out of 285 games played. He also led the Weir track team to 5 state championships in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1988 and was named regional and state track coach of the year. Joe served as an assistant and head coach in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic and as head coach and administrative coach in the MS/AL All-Star game. He was named football and track coach of the year on numerous occasions . Coach Gant is a longtime MAC member who served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President and President and was a frequent clinic speaker. Joe Taught 4 classes of junior high science daily during his coaching career and retired in May, 2000, after a short stint at Louisville High. He has served as assistant track & field coach at Mississippi State since 2004 coaching the Bulldog pole vaulters.