NEMCC Hall of Fame Honors Six Inductees at Homecoming

Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville welcomed six new members into the NEMCC Hall of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 24, as part of the college’s homecoming day. The 2026 class includes a longtime engineering leader, a Super Bowl veteran, a former NBA first-round pick, record-setting women’s athletes and a Tiger who has spent more than three decades serving the school.

The college announced the honorees on its official Facebook page Thursday evening, calling them six people whose achievements and contributions “represent what it means to be a Tiger.”

Meet the 2026 NEMCC Hall of Fame class

• Kent Geno (Alumni Hall of Fame) started at Northeast as a pre-engineering student and went on to become president of Cook Coggin Engineers. The college credited him with work that strengthens communities across northeast Mississippi and with continued support for Northeast through scholarships, internships and campus improvements.
• Mario Addison became the first former Northeast football player to play in the Super Bowl when he reached Super Bowl 50. The former All-State standout put together a 12-year NFL career with 70 sacks, 313 tackles and 182 games played.
• Stephanie Breedlove is Northeast’s only slow-pitch softball All-American. She tied the program’s batting average record at .487, earned the Tiger Award and helped the Tigers win a division championship.
• Rod Coggin has worn many hats at Northeast: football and baseball player, assistant baseball coach and administrator. His work helped the Tigers reach three straight Region 23 baseball tournaments, and after more than 30 years at the college he now serves as vice president of student services.
• Krystal Robinson overcame adversity to help lead the Lady Tigers to the 2007 state championship. A preseason All-American pick, she scored 529 points as a freshman and still ranks among Northeast’s all-time leaders in several categories.
• Qyntel Woods averaged 32.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game at Northeast and earned first-team All-American honors. The 21st overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, he is the first and only Northeast men’s basketball player drafted straight from the college, and his pro career lasted more than 15 years.

Homecoming day in Booneville

The induction was one piece of a busy homecoming schedule on the Booneville campus. According to the college’s announcement, the day included:

• The Hall of Fame banquet at 4 p.m.
• A Tiger tailgate at 5 p.m.
• The homecoming football game against Northwest Mississippi Community College at 7 p.m.

This week, Northeast also invited Booneville fifth graders to join a homecoming pep rally, giving younger students a taste of college game-day spirit.

Why the honor matters

Northeast’s Hall of Fame recognizes former students, athletes and coaches whose careers reflect well on the college, both on and off the field. This year’s group spans several decades, from Woods’ record-setting basketball seasons in the early 2000s to Robinson’s 2007 state title run and Coggin’s 30-plus years of service.

“Each of these remarkable inductees represents the spirit of Northeast through determination, excellence and a lasting impact far beyond campus,” the college said in its post, closing with a familiar line for Tiger fans: “Once a Tiger, always a Tiger.”

Northeast Mississippi Community College serves students in Alcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo, Tippah and Union counties, with its main campus in Booneville and a location in Corinth. For more on Northeast students, read our stories on NEMCC Adult Education in Corinth and NEMCC paramedic students in a mock courtroom.

Source: Northeast Mississippi Community College