Randy Broome is a self-described “baseball lifer,” and a large portion of that life has been spent in and around Warren Central.

The 51-year-old has been affiliated with the program in some capacity for the past 27 years, making him a constant with one of Mississippi’s most consistent teams. That long affiliation made this season even more satisfying.

Broome guided the Vikings to a 19-13 record, their second consecutive MHSAA Region 2-6A title, and the Class 6A finals for the first time since 2001. It’s the kind of resumé that made him The Vicksburg Post’s baseball Coach of the Year.

“It’s a blessing, but this is not a Randy Broome thing. It’s a Warren Central baseball thing. It’s a program that a lot of people have had their hands in,” Broome said. “This group, this year, fortunately has been able to get over that hump to where we’re at and bring some excitement to the community and those who have been a part of it. That part of it means more than any accolade or award.”

Broome is The Post’s Coach of the Year for the second season in a row, and third time overall. The first time he won it was in 2004, during his first run as Warren Central’s head coach. That followed one stint as an assistant and preceded another, as well as a hiatus to work in administration in the Vicksburg Warren School District.

In all that time, he said, he’s taken bits and pieces of other coaches he’s worked with and for to come up with a guiding philosophy — hustle, compete, and be a good teammate.

“If we can’t do those three things daily then really everything else is irrelevant,” Broome said. “It’s on the bottom of our practice plan every day. Every chance I have to bring it up, I bring it up. I’ve been fortunate in my life to be on some quality teams and as a coach seen some, and if there’s one main factor that sticks out it’s the team concept.”

For a long time, Warren Central’s lot in life seemed to be as a stubborn obstacle for Mississippi’s elite teams. Warren Central reached the playoffs 15 years in a row, but hadn’t been past the second round since 2004. It was put out by the eventual Class 6A champion three times in four years between 2015 and 2018.

“I would like to think you’re going to have to beat Warren Central at some point to keep going. That has been pretty consistent,” Broome said.

The playoff frustration had to end at some point, and it did in the spring of 2024. The Vikings won six games in eight days to finish the regular season and clinch the Region 2-6A championship, and also ignite a hot streak.

Beginning with a 5-2 win over Ridgeland on April 12, the Vikings won 13 of their next 14 games to roll through the second-round roadblock as well as the semifinal round. A two-game sweep of Center Hill punched their ticket to Trustmark Park and the Class 6A finals.

“Knowing we’ve had some good squads over the years and just could not get over that second round, finally getting to do it now with a team that’s not like ‘01, that part of it is what’s most satisfying for me is getting over the second round of the playoffs and getting to play for North State,” Broome said. “That’s something that’s been a grind for we as a coaching staff. We felt like we’ve had the teams to do it and haven’t been able to get past that one round.”

Warren Central wasn’t able to bring a state championship trophy back to Vicksburg. It was swept by George County, losing both games by 3-2 scores after the Rebels scored the go-ahead run in their final at-bat. Those were among eight one-run losses the Vikings suffered during the season.

Broome said getting over the mental hurdle of early playoff exits, however, was huge for the long-term health of the program.

“I’m proud as I can be. It’s a stepping stone for things to come. Any time your younger players can be involved in something like this, now when we talk about state championships that’s not fantasy talk. That’s not folklore. That’s something they’ve seen before,” Broome said after the Game 2 loss George County.

Broome added that what it’ll take to get over the next hurdle is the same kind of mindset that got them to this point. Hustle. Compete. And, above all else, be a good teammate — at every level.

“This thing is way bigger than me. We have a great staff. The assistant coaches pull their weight and put in a lot of work. Then you go back to, ‘I didn’t throw a pitch, I didn’t field a ground ball, I didn’t have an AB,’” Broome said. “Honestly, I look more forward to the practice time because that’s when I get to be a kid. I get to hit fungo, I get to throw BP, all that stuff. The game is just managing the best I can and putting our guys in the best situations I can.”

Vicksburg Post Coaches of the Year
2024 – Randy Broome, Warren Central
2023 – Randy Broome, Warren Central
2022 – Antonio Calvin, Vicksburg
2021 – Sid Naron, St. Aloysius
2020 – No winner (COVID)
2019 – Conner Douglas, Warren Central
2018 – Sid Naron, St. Aloysius
2017 – Conner Douglas, Warren Central
2016 – Conner Douglas, Warren Central
2015 – Conner Douglas, Warren Central
2014 – Conner Douglas, Warren Central
2013 – Derrik Boland, St. Aloysius
2012 – Ryan Grey, Vicksburg
2011 – Jerry Bourne, Porters Chapel
2010 – Clint Wilkerson, St. Aloysius
2009 – Clint Wilkerson, St. Aloysius
2008 – Jamie Creel, Vicksburg
2007 – Clint Wilkerson, St. Aloysius
2006 – Randy Wright, Porters Chapel
2005 – Clint Wilkerson, St. Aloysius
2004 – Randy Broome, Warren Central
2003 – Randy Wright, Porters Chapel
2002 – Joe Graves, St. Aloysius
2001 – Sam Temple, Warren Central
2000 – Jamie Creel, Vicksburg
1999 – Randy Wright, Porters Chapel
1998 – Sam Temple, Warren Central
1997 – Ray Burroughs, Vicksburg
1996 – Joe Graves, St. Aloysius
1995 – Joe Graves, St. Aloysius
1994 – Joe Graves, St. Aloysius