Coach Sam Richey is a legendary North Mississippi basketball coach who compiled a career record of over 800 wins and led his teams to 6 state championships. Coach Richey was born in Prentiss County near Baldwyn where he attended Wheeler High and was Mr. Wheeler High School and a 3-year starter on the boys basketball team. He played JUCO basketball for Northeast Junior College and earned a degree at Mississippi State in 1963. After a tour of duty in the U.S. Army from 1958-60, he entered coaching at Jumpertown High where he led Jumpertown to the 1971 state title after a runner-up finish in 1969. Sam arrived at Wheeler High in 1974 and guided the Eagles hoops team for 19 years, winning 5 state titles in 1980, 1988, 1990, 1991, & 1992. He finished his coaching career at Baldwyn High where he coached for 7 seasons. Overall he led 17 high school teams to the state tournament and won 6 state crowns with 4 state runner-up finishes and 7 semi-final round appearances. His teams compiled a record of 26-11 in the state tournament. Coach Richey’s hardwood squads won 7 North State titles, 17 District & Region championships, 12 county titles, and an amazing 45 invitational tournament championships. He coached in 1,151 games with 819 wins and 332 losses for a 71% winning percentage. Sam coached state championship teams in 4 different decades. He served the MAC on the basketball committee 5 times and was a member since 1969. Coach Richey coached in the 1991 MS/AL All-Star game and was head coach of the North in the 1981 Mississippi High School All-Star contest. He was selected as Coach of the Year on 11 different occasions.