Athletics News
Rust College Athletics Announces the Relaunch of the Rust College Athletics Hall of Fame
August 07, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — After nearly two decades, Rust College Athletics is proud to announce the relaunch of the Rust College Athletics Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will return as a marquee event during Founders Week, reviving a long-standing tradition of honoring Rust College’s legendary athletes, coaches, and contributors who have left an indelible mark on the institution’s proud athletic legacy.
Rust College Names Barry Wellington as New Head Men’s Basketball Coach
August 04, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College is proud to announce the hiring of Barry Wellington as its new head men’s basketball coach. Wellington brings with him a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success at multiple levels of collegiate basketball.
RUST COLLEGE EARNS GOLD STATUS AS NAIA CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER FIVE-STAR INSTITUTION
July 28, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – Rust College Athletics has been officially recognized as a Gold NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution for the 2024–2025 academic year, earning a perfect score of 100 out of 100 points. Out of 250 schools, Rust College was one of the select few institutions to reach this achievement. This recognition marks a historic milestone, as the institution advanced from no tier status last year to the top Gold tier in just one evaluation cycle.
Rust College Hosts Inaugural Mississippi Association of Players (MAP) Baseball All-Star Game
July 02, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College proudly served as the host site for the inaugural Mississippi Association of Players (MAP) Baseball All-Star Game, showcasing top-tier high school baseball talent from across the state. The event marked a milestone in Mississippi baseball, bringing student-athletes together for a week of development, competition, and opportunity.
Rust College Baseball Stars Earn Black College Nines Elites Honors
July 01, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — Rust College Baseball proudly congratulates outfielders Kyrent Cole, Malik Berrien, and Shamaar Stapleton on their selection to the prestigious Black College Nines Elites All-American Team for 2025. These honors recognize excellence on the national HBCU baseball stage, as evaluated by the Black College Nines—a leading website covering the legacy and current success of Historically Black College and University baseball programs.
Rust College Hosts 2025 HBCUAC Summer Conference, Welcomes New Members to Growing Athletic Conference
June 02, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – Rust College proudly served as the host institution for the 2025 HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Summer Conference, held from May 19–21 on campus. The annual conference brought together athletic professionals from across the conference for three days of planning, collaboration, and professional development aimed at advancing the mission and success of HBCUAC athletics.
Rust College Baseball Wraps Up Season With Notable Improvement and All-Conference Honors
May 12, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Bearcats have concluded their 2025 baseball season with clear signs of progress and several standout individual performances. Under the direction of Head Coach John Bates, the Bearcats finished with a 22-28 overall record — a marked improvement from last season’s 16-33 campaign. In conference play, Rust posted a 13-17 record in the newly formed HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), recording more wins than the previous year and showing promise for continued development.
Rust College Baseball’s Jalik Demar and Shamaar Stapleton Named to All-HBCUAC Second Team
May 12, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Baseball program proudly recognizes the accomplishments of Jalik Demar and Shamaar Stapleton, who have both been named to the 2025 All-HBCUAC Second Team. Their standout performances were instrumental in the Bearcats’ continued rise under head coach John Bates.
Rust College Baseball Standouts Malik Berrien and Kyrent Cole Named to All-HBCUAC First Team
May 02, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — Rust College Baseball proudly recognizes the exceptional performances of two standout student-athletes, Malik Berrien (photo to the left) and Kyrent Cole (photo to the right), who have been named to the 2025 All-HBCUAC First Team following stellar seasons under head coach John Bates.
Rust College Softball Wraps Up Historic Season with Strong Postseason Finish
May 01, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Softball team closed out a memorable 2025 season with a hard-fought run to the HBCUAC Conference Tournament Semifinals, marking one of the program’s most successful campaigns in recent memory.
Rust College Celebrates Athletic Excellence at Annual Sports Awards Banquet
April 30, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – On Monday, April 21, the Rust College Department of Athletics proudly hosted its annual Athletic Awards Banquet, an evening dedicated to honoring the remarkable achievements of student-athletes, coaches, and teams during the 2024-2025 athletic season.
Rust College Unveils Major Renovations to Kinzell Lawson Gymnasium and Athletic Facilities
April 28, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – April 28, 2025 – Rust College is proud to announce a comprehensive renovation of the historic Kinzell Lawson Gymnasium and several key athletic facilities, marking a new era of excellence in athletic competition and student-athlete support. Constructed in 1970, the gymnasium has undergone a complete overhaul following the appointment of new Director of Athletics Jeremy Patterson, whose vision is transforming our athletic environment.
Rust College’s Leona Joshua Earns All-HBCUAC First Team Honors as Pitcher
April 24, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Athletics Department proudly congratulates junior pitcher Leona Joshua on being named to the All-HBCUAC Softball First Team for her outstanding performance during the 2025 season.
Rust College’s Ashanti Murrell Named HBCUAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
April 23, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Athletics Department proudly congratulates freshman pitcher Ashanti Murrell on being named the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Softball Pitcher of the Week for April 14th–20th. This marks Murrell’s first Pitcher of the Week honor this season and the third total Player of the Week recognition for the Bearcats softball program this year.
Rust College Women’s Tennis Ends Season with Playoff Win and Bold Progress
April 23, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Women’s Tennis team closed out its 2024–25 campaign having taken significant strides under first‑year head coach Venecca Green. Despite the challenges of a small roster, the Bearcats doubled their match wins from last season, finished with a 2‑9 overall record, and earned a first‑round playoff victory at the national championship tournament in San Antonio, Texas.
Rust College Men’s Tennis Concludes Season with Historic Rivalry Wins and Significant Growth
April 22, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Men’s Tennis team wrapped up its 2024–25 campaign with marked improvements, standout victories over key rivals, and valuable national‑level experience. Under first‑year head coach Venecca Green, the Bearcats doubled their win total from the previous season, finishing with a 4‑11 overall record and laying a foundation for sustained success.