Ball-Williamson, Ferguson to be inducted to ICC Athletic Hall of Fame
Itawamba Community College announced current Athletic Director and former softball and basketball coach Carrie Ball-Williamson and former football All-American Jason Ferguson will be inducted into the ICC Athletic Hall of Fame during a special ceremony to be held during Homecoming on October 27th.
Ball-Williamson, Ferguson to be inducted to ICC Athletic Hall of Fame
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – Itawamba Community College announced current Athletic Director and former softball and basketball coach Carrie Ball-Williamson and former football All-American Jason Ferguson will be inducted into the ICC Athletic Hall of Fame during a special ceremony to be held during Homecoming on October 27th.
Ball-Williamson is beginning her twentieth year at Itawamba Community College after spending 13 years in high school education as an instructor and head softball and head basketball coach. Her Pontotoc Lady Warriors never lost a division basketball game. She directed the women's basketball program at Itawamba for 13 seasons before stepping down to serve as full-time athletic director. Now in her eleventh year as AD, Ball-Williamson oversees 10 intercollegiate sports as well as the Davis Event Center.
In 1993, the Pontotoc native was named ICC's head women's basketball and softball coach. She was also the College's Director of Student Activities for 10 years. Ball-Williamson received MACJC Coach of the Year honors twice in basketball, and her teams won two North Division championships. Also, her softball teams won three North Division championships and one state championship. In March 2011, she received the NJCAA Loyalty Award for exemplifying leadership both on and off the field.
Ferguson earned MACJC All-State and NJCAA All-Region in both seasons with the Indians. In 1994, he earned NJCAA All-American status after recording 88 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He was named to the honorable mention NJCAA All-American list in 1993.
After ICC, Ferguson played the 1995 and '96 seasons at the University of Georgia. A memorable moment came against Auburn when Ferguson sacked quarterback Dameyune Craig on fourth-and-three in the fourth overtime to seal a 56-49 victory for the Bulldogs.
Ferguson was selected in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft by Bill Parcells' New York Jets. In 2004, he had 59 tackles and 3.5 sacks making him one of the top nose guards in the league. He was named AFC Player of the Week four times with the Jets.
The Nettleton native spent eight seasons with the Jets before signing as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 and the Miami Dolphins in 2008 and played through the 2009 season before a knee injury eventually forced his retirement after 13 years in the league. He finished his career with 325 tackles and 21.5 sacks.
Ball-Williamson and Ferguson will be honored with a reception in the Student Services Building along with a special pre-game ceremony as part of the ICC Homecoming festivities.