Northeast Mississippi Community College Athletics

THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE TIGERS

Sat, 04/27 | Baseball at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College W, 12-6 (Final) BX
Sat, 04/27 | Baseball at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College L, 5-4 (Final) BX
Sat, 04/27 | Softball vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College W, 4-0 (Final) BX | V
Sat, 04/27 | Softball vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College W, 10-5 (Final) BX | V
Tue, 04/30 | Softball at Itawamba Community College W, 5-3 (Final) BX | V
Fri, 05/03 | Softball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College L, 6-0 (Final) BX | V
Sat, 05/04 | Baseball at East Central Community College L, 6-4 (Final) BX | V
Sat, 05/04 | Softball vs. Hinds Community College W, 6-2 (Final) BX | V
Sat, 05/04 | Softball vs. Louisiana State University Eunice L, 2-1 (Final) BX | V
Sun, 05/05 | Baseball at East Central Community College W, 3-2 (Final) BX | V
Mon, 05/06 | Baseball at East Central Community College L, 12-7 (Final) BX | V

Maurice Stafford

Years at Northeast:

1980-82, 2003-13

Sports:

Men's Basketball/Women's Basketball

Occupation:

Student-Athlete/Coach

Maurice Stafford started what turned into a blossoming career in the sport of basketball after signing with then-Northeast Mississippi Junior College as one of the highest touted prep athletes in the Magnolia State.

Stafford immediately showed amazing potential during his inaugural matchup in a black-and-gold uniform on November 10, 1980 at home against Dyersburg State (Tenn.) Community College. He nearly accounted for a double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds during a decisive 103-84 victory by the Tigers.

The Biggersville High School graduate was frequently the leading scorer for Northeast during his freshman campaign in jersey No. 44 while under the watch of head coach Noel Akins.

His first such instance as top scorer for the Tigers was in a tight 92-89 triumph over Northwest Alabama Community College, which is now Northwest-Shoals Community College. Stafford was one of five Tigers to reach double figures that night with 26 points.

Stafford helped Northeast win its initial five contests that year with 25 points at Dyersburg State and 30 points during his first rivalry matchup with Itawamba Community College on December 2, 1980.

He and his teammates went on to win the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division Tournament crown with a 61-50 triumph versus Northwest Mississippi Community College. Stafford had 13 points in the Tigers' title victory over the Rangers.

Northeast eventually lost in the state championship contest to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 7 Tournament that was held on the campus of Paducah (Ky.) Community College, which is currently known as West Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Stafford, who was one of four returning sophomores, and the Tigers gained their revenge one season later by capturing the 1982 MACJC State Tournament title under the direction of first-year headman Richard Mathis.

Northeast edged past Mississippi Gulf Coast in the semifinals by a 56-55 margin thanks in part to 27 points from Stafford. The Tigers then bested host Utica Junior College 86-78 with Stafford notching 15 points before hoisting the championship trophy.

Stafford was selected to the MACJC All-State team and became the seventh NJCAA All-American in program history after leading both the state and region with approximately 23 points per game.

The Rienzi native was also the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 1981 Tip Off Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., where Northeast won the crown over Lurleen B. Wallace (Ala.) Community College.

He signed with the University of North Alabama after his tenure with the Tigers and found even more success on the hardwood. He led the Lions in scoring and field goal percentage both as a junior and senior.

Stafford was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) selection and was the 1984 GSC Player of the Year. That same season he led North Alabama to a 27-7 overall mark, a GSC and NCAA South Regional championship plus a berth to the NCAA Division II Final Four.

He shot 75 percent from the floor during his senior campaign, which at the time was a NCAA Division II record. That incredible feat was broken three years later, but still remains fourth all-time at that level.

Stafford's career stat line for the Lions included 922 points, 382 rebounds, 95 assists, 70 steals and 32 blocks. He later returned to Florence, Ala., as an assistant coach for North Alabama's women's program.

His playing career might have concluded with the Lions, but his passion for roundball continued through his time as a coach. His first position came at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 1989-95.

Stafford was heavily involved in recruiting, monitoring the academic status of players, game preparation and the development of post players while at UT Martin, North Alabama and the University of Memphis (Tenn.).

Some of the standout athletes he instructed were Tamika Whitmore, who went on to play for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) after starring at Memphis, and North Alabama's inaugural first-team All-American in Serita Gaulding.

Stafford returned to Booneville to conclude his coaching tenure at Northeast. He was the first ever assistant for the women's basketball program and assisted the men as well over a decade starting in 2003.

He assisted the Lady Tigers in capturing a pair of state championships plus the 2006 NJCAA Region 23 title. Stafford tutored NJCAA All-Americans Jessica Hooker and Krystal Robinson during that special season that saw Northeast reach the NJCAA Division I National Tournament for the third time ever.

Stafford, who is also a member of North Alabama's Hall of Fame, is married to the former Karyn Miller of Jumpertown. They have a daughter, Sascha, and one grandson, D'Kylin.