Mississippi’s coaching fraternity has lost one of its most beloved members.

William A. “Moose” Perry, who coached baseball at Mississippi College and several high schools in the Jackson Metro area during a career that lasted more than 50 years, died Saturday.

Perry, a Jackson native who got his nickname “Moose” in childhood because of his size, began his coaching career as an assistant at Jackson Central in 1969. He was hired as the head coach at Forest Hill in the early 1970s and quickly turned the South Jackson school into a state power.

Led by twin brothers Stan and Stewart Cliburn, both future major leaguers, the Rebels finished 29-1 in 1974 and won the MHSAA Class AA state championship.

Perry was hired as the baseball head coach at Mississippi College — his alma mater — in 1976, and in 2022 the school named its hitting facility in his honor.

Perry returned to high school baseball after his brief tenure at Mississippi College. He had coaching stints with Byram, Raymond, Central Hinds Academy and Rebul Academy.

Rebul was his final stop, and he served as the head baseball coach, athletics director, assistant football and basketball coach, and a history teacher at the school in Learned for more than 20 years.

In 2023 Perry was inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame.

Perry also worked as a high school umpire and founded The Lamb of God Christian mission in Jackson. He was a mentor and friend to numerous coaches, players and umpires throughout Mississippi.