William Carey College Men's Baseball

Halford arrived on the Carey campus in the fall of 1971 and roamed the outfields for Crusaders for four season playing for legendary Crusader coaches John O'Keefe and John Stephenson.   In 1976-77, Halford joined the Carey coaching staff as an assistant coach under Stephenson for baseball and became the first head coach of the women's basketball program. Halford roamed the sidelines for 10 seasons going 152-112 and led the Lady Crusaders to the 1982-83 GCAC championship.  Three former players, Wanda Ard, Kathy Swilley, and Tommie Beasley, moved on to play professional basketball in the Women's American Basketball Association.   Halford served as the assistant baseball coach for eight seasons. During his time as an assistant the Crusaders won three GCAC championships, captured the 1978 NAIA regional tournament and advanced to the 1978 NAIA World Series.    In 1986 Halford was named the head baseball coach and began to rewrite the Carey record books. Halford's Crusaders have captured 16 GCAC championships, 6 NAIA District 30 Championships and participated in 18 NAIA Regional Tournaments. Eight times Halford has been named GCAC Coach of the Year. In 2009, 20011, 2013, and 2016 the Crusaders advanced to the Opening Round of the NAIA National Tournament. Over 35 former players have moved on to pro ball and several have moved into the coaching ranks.   Halford completed his undergraduate degree in education from William Carey in 1976 and finished his master's degree in education in 1977.   During his time at WCU Halford has served as Athletic Director from 1984-1987 and he currently serves as an instructor in the department of education.   Halford has been married to his wife Kathy for 35 years, and they have four daughters (Kelly-33, Brittany-31, Leslie-24, and Lori-22) and three grandchildren (Allie-5, Ava Katherine-2, and Emily-1)   Ben Smith begins his 8th season as an assistant coach at William Carey. Smith will serve as the pitching coach for the Crusaders in 2016.   Smith first arrived at William Carey in 2004 as an infielder/pitcher out of Laurel High School. In four years with the Crusaders he was a member of 2 NAIA Regional teams and a member of the 2005 GCAC Championship team. After finishing his playing career, Smith stayed at William Carey as the assistant coach working with infielders and hitters. He helped lead the Crusaders to another GCAC Championship and NAIA Regional Runner-up finish in 2009.   In 2010, Smith was named head coach of the first ever men's and women's cross country teams at William Carey. Smith continued to split time between baseball and cross country for the next five years through the summer of 2015. In five years of coaching cross country, William Carey produced 2 NAIA All-Americans, 3 SSAC Individual Conference Champions, and 14 All-SSAC runners. Smith's 2014 men's cross country team also won the SSAC Championship and advanced to the NAIA National Championship.   2016 will be Smith's third season to head up the Crusaders' pitching staff, which has finished in the top 3 in the SSAC each of those years in Strikeouts and Opponents Batting Average. Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from William Carey in 2008 and a Master of Education in 2012. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in the William Carey History Department. Smith is married to the former Amy Perry of Florence, MS and they have two daughters (Mackenzie-4, Collins-1). Reggie Richardson begins his first season here at William Carey University and fourteenth overall after being in private business for the past three years.  He will serve as infield coach and assist with hitters.    Richardson began his college baseball career at Jones County Junior College where he earned All-State and All-Region 23 honors as the starting second baseman for the Bobcats during the 1996-97 seasons. He was voted Best Defensive Player.   His coaching career also started at Jones as a graduate assistant baseball coach in 2000, and in 2001, he helped recruit the 2002 State Champions and Region 23 Division I Runner-up team.   Richardson served as an assistant coach at Jones County Junior College from 2008-11. He helped the Bobcats to a 46-17 record in 2011. That year, the Bobcats finished second in the NJCAA Division II World Series, won the MACJC state championship and Region 23 title. In 2010, JCJC was 38-12 and won the MACJC South Division crown. In 2009, the Bobcats were 36-16 and qualified for the state tournament.   Before coming to Jones, Richardson served two years as pitching coach at Pearl River Community College. He was the assistant coach at East Central Community College in 2003-04 where he helped recruit the 2005 Region 23 Division I Champions.  Richardson was the Head Coach at Southeast Lauderdale High School in 2002, Northeast Lauderdale High School, where he led his team to the 2005 District 5-4A championship, earning him district coach of the year honors, and Puckett High school in 2012.   The native of Stonewall, MS graduated from Enterprise High School in 1995. Upon graduation from Jones, he transferred to William Carey University where he was the starting shortstop in the 1998 and 1999 seasons. While at Carey, he compiled a .345 batting average, had 18 home runs and 86 RBIs, and was named All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Richardson played one season of independent professional baseball in the Texas-Louisiana League in 2000. Richardson earned a bachelors degree in physical education with a minor in social studies from William Carey University in 1999 and a masters degree in teaching from the University of West Alabama in 2004. Richardson and his wife, Blair, have a son, Cole, and a daughter, Jillian.

Smith will serve as the pitching coach for the Crusaders in 2016.   Smith first arrived at William Carey in 2004 as an infielder/pitcher out of Laurel High School. In four years with the Crusaders he was a member of 2 NAIA Regional teams and a member of the 2005 GCAC Championship team. After finishing his playing career, Smith stayed at William Carey as the assistant coach working with infielders and hitters. He helped lead the Crusaders to another GCAC Championship and NAIA Regional Runner-up finish in 2009.   In 2010, Smith was named head coach of the first ever men's and women's cross country teams at William Carey. Smith continued to split time between baseball and cross country for the next five years through the summer of 2015. In five years of coaching cross country, William Carey produced 2 NAIA All-Americans, 3 SSAC Individual Conference Champions, and 14 All-SSAC runners. Smith's 2014 men's cross country team also won the SSAC Championship and advanced to the NAIA National Championship.   2016 will be Smith's third season to head up the Crusaders' pitching staff, which has finished in the top 3 in the SSAC each of those years in Strikeouts and Opponents Batting Average. Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from William Carey in 2008 and a Master of Education in 2012. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in the William Carey History Department. Smith is married to the former Amy Perry of Florence, MS and they have two daughters (Mackenzie-4, Collins-1). Reggie Richardson begins his first season here at William Carey University and fourteenth overall after being in private business for the past three years.  He will serve as infield coach and assist with hitters.    Richardson began his college baseball career at Jones County Junior College where he earned All-State and All-Region 23 honors as the starting second baseman for the Bobcats during the 1996-97 seasons. He was voted Best Defensive Player.   His coaching career also started at Jones as a graduate assistant baseball coach in 2000, and in 2001, he helped recruit the 2002 State Champions and Region 23 Division I Runner-up team.   Richardson served as an assistant coach at Jones County Junior College from 2008-11. He helped the Bobcats to a 46-17 record in 2011. That year, the Bobcats finished second in the NJCAA Division II World Series, won the MACJC state championship and Region 23 title. In 2010, JCJC was 38-12 and won the MACJC South Division crown. In 2009, the Bobcats were 36-16 and qualified for the state tournament.   Before coming to Jones, Richardson served two years as pitching coach at Pearl River Community College. He was the assistant coach at East Central Community College in 2003-04 where he helped recruit the 2005 Region 23 Division I Champions.  Richardson was the Head Coach at Southeast Lauderdale High School in 2002, Northeast Lauderdale High School, where he led his team to the 2005 District 5-4A championship, earning him district coach of the year honors, and Puckett High school in 2012.   The native of Stonewall, MS graduated from Enterprise High School in 1995. Upon graduation from Jones, he transferred to William Carey University where he was the starting shortstop in the 1998 and 1999 seasons. While at Carey, he compiled a .345 batting average, had 18 home runs and 86 RBIs, and was named All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Richardson played one season of independent professional baseball in the Texas-Louisiana League in 2000. Richardson earned a bachelors degree in physical education with a minor in social studies from William Carey University in 1999 and a masters degree in teaching from the University of West Alabama in 2004. Richardson and his wife, Blair, have a son, Cole, and a daughter, Jillian.