On the heels of one of the most successful stretches in program history, Northeast Community College women’s basketball has a new leader in Brian Middleton.
The spot was left vacant after the departure of former head coach Chelsey Rhodes, who led the program to its winningest two-season period in 18 years during her three-year tenure. Rhodes announced in May that she was leaving Booneville to take on an assistant coaching role at Division I College of Charleston.
Middleton will bring a resume of success to north Mississippi and hopes to capitalize on the Tigers’ recent success under Rhodes.
“A proud resident of our district, Coach Middleton brings a proven and successful track record,” Northeast president Dr. Ricky Ford said in the announcement. “We look forward to his leadership and vision as we continue to build back a winning program.”
The new head man assumes his first head coaching role at the college level after a long stretch of winning basketball at the high school ranks. Middleton recently completed his ninth year leading the girls’ basketball program at Tishomingo County. That run was punctuated by a 2024 4A state championship. In a prior stint coaching at Oak Hill Academy, Middleton captured the MAIS program’s first state title in 2016.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this family at Northeast,” Middleton said. “When we moved up here nine years ago, we fell in love with north Mississippi. I got to know a lot about Northeast and the tradition of the program here. I’m just excited to be a part of that. We want to play a brand of basketball that’s exciting and fun to watch.”
In the final two seasons under Chelsey Rhodes, the Lady Tigers finished with 37 total wins and a pair of top four finishes in the MACCC.
