Woody Barnett
Pearl High School
Impact Statement
Barnett is one of the most successful track and field and cross country coaches in Mississippi history.
Biography
In a 34-year teaching and coaching career, Barnett has become one of the most successful track and field and cross country coaches in Mississippi history.
A Jackson native and a graduate of Mississippi College, Barnett has coached Pearl to 43 state team championships in cross country and track, most recently back-to-back boys track and field state titles in 2011 and 2012. His boys cross country teams most recently won three straight state titles from 2008-10, two in 4A and the last in 5A. He has coached 145 individual state champions in the two sports.
Barnett also has served as Pearl’s athletic director since 1997, and the school’s programs have won 45 state championships in all sports during his tenure. Inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) Hall of Fame in 2008, Barnett was honored both as its Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year and its Athletic Director of the Year in 2011.
He is an eight-time MAC Coach of the Year in cross country and track and field. The Jackson Clarion-Ledger has named Pearl the recipient of the 5A All-Sports Award four times during Barnett’s tenure. The National Federation of State High School Associations named Barnett National Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2004, and he was named Gill Athletics Southeast Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year by USA Track and Field in 2011.
Barnett retired in 2013 after a 36 year career that boasted 43 MHSAA State Championships in Track & Field and Cross County.
In May of 2016, Barnett was selected to be the first Executive Director of the Mississippi Athletic Administrators Association (MAAA). As of 2020, Barnett still maintains his position working towards gaining attraction and bringing Athletic Director’s together.
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