PEARL - MCC Track standout Miguel Pate was inducted into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday, April 23, at the Hinds Community College Muse Center in Pearl.
Miguel Pate had a notable academic and athletic journey beginning at West Feliciana High School in Louisiana (1994-1997), followed by his time at Meridian Junior College (1997-1999), where he showcased his talent in the triple jump, long jump, and briefly in basketball. In his first year at Meridian, he achieved personal bests of 50 ft 7+1⁄4 in the triple jump and 25 ft 2+1⁄2 in the long jump, placing fourth in the long jump at the NJCAA Track and Field Championships. The following year, he won the NJCAA Championship in the triple jump with a personal best of 52 ft 7 in.
Pate transferred to the University of Alabama, where, under the guidance of Rod Tiffin, he continued to excel, winning the 2001 World University Games and earning multiple All-American honors while competing for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In 2002, Miguel had a standout season, choosing to complete his NCAA eligibility over becoming professional early. Due to his basketball participation at Meridian Junior College, this decision allowed him to compete and excel during the NCAA indoor track and field season. Pate started the season with a remarkable jump and continued undefeated, setting an NCAA Indoor Long Jump record with a leap of 28 ft 2+1⁄4 in, securing his win at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships by a significant margin. He also triumphed in the NCAA Championship long jump and was the runner-up in the triple jump. Subsequently, Pate signed up with Nike to become a professional.
Pate's professional career experienced highs and lows. He began strongly in 2002, performing impressively and ranking second worldwide by the year's end. In 2003, he won the USATF Indoor Championship but suffered a significant setback with a knee injury, threatening his career. Despite the challenges, Pate made a notable comeback in 2005, winning the USATF Outdoor Championship and continuing to compete at a high level through subsequent years. He achieved significant rankings and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Miguel is in his thirteenth season as the Alabama Crimson Tide's jumps coach. His coaching tenure has been marked by notable successes, including the development of athletes like Shelby McEwen, who won SEC indoor and outdoor high jump titles and achieved exceptional heights, and Christian Edwards, who earned SEC All-Freshman honors twice and represented the U.S. at the IAAF U20 Championships. On the women's side, athletes like Stacey Destin and Tamara Moncrieffe have excelled under his guidance, with Destin earning All-America honors and Moncrieffe breaking school records in the triple jump. Pate's coaching has led to historic performances, including Quanesha Burks winning multiple SEC and NCAA titles in the long jump and setting new school records. His impact extends beyond individual achievements, contributing significantly to the team's success, including the women's third-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships and the development of record-breaking relay teams. Following a successful professional career and coaching stint at Samford, Pate's return to Alabama has seen him elevate the jumps program, drawing from his experience as a decorated athlete who still holds Alabama records in the long and triple jump and represented the U.S. at the Beijing Olympics.
Previous inductees from MCC include:
Lou Weddington Hart, Player & Coach, Golf, 2007
Ronald Murray, Player, Basketball, 2007
Clifton Lee, Player, Baseball, 2007
James Redgate, Jr., Coach, Basketball & Golf, 2008
Jason Smith, Player, Baseball, 2008
Billy Harold Smith, Coach, Baseball, 2009
Paul Phillips, Player, Baseball, 2010
Carlton "Corky" Palmer, Coach, Baseball, 2011
Wanda McPhail, Coach, Tennis, 2012
Robert Dreyfus, III, Player, Golf, 2013
Scott Berry, Coach, Baseball, 2014
Colby Miller, Player, Track, 2015
Sean Covich, Player & Coach, Golf, 2016
Lane Burroughs, Player, Baseball, 2017
Chris Curry, Player & Coach, Baseball, 2018
Steve Clements, Coach, Soccer, 2019
Fredna Cross, Coach, Softball, 2020
Tyler Moore, Player, Baseball 2021
Damani Ralph, Player, Soccer 2022
Brandt Garon, Player, Golf 2023