(https://gmpg.org/xfn/11) (https://fonts.googleapis.com) (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Oswald%253Awght@200..700&display=swap.css) (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Oswald%253Awght@200..700&display=swap.css)  (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Noto+Sans%253A300,400,400i,700%257CNoto+Serif%253A400,700%257COpen+Sans%253A300,300i,400,400i,500,700&display=swap.css) (../../../cdn.jsdelivr.net/jquery.slick/1.6.0/slick-theme.css) (../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/7.0.0/css/all.min.css) (../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/7.0.0/css/all.min.css)   Buddy Stephens hires attorney to fight firing from EMCC - The Dispatch  (https://cdispatch.com/?p=328557)                  (https://static.addtoany.com/)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/)  (The Dispatch » Feed) (https://cdispatch.com/feed/)  (The Dispatch » iCal Feed) (https://cdispatch.com/events/?ical=1)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall/css/lp-list-builder.css@ver=5.1.9.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall/css/issuem-leaky-paywall.css@ver=5.1.9.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall-trials/css/style.css@ver=1.9.6.css)  (../../wp-content/themes/commercial_dispatch_v3/css/theme.min.css@ver=.1767201025.css)  (../../wp-content/themes/commercial_dispatch_v3/css/style.css@ver=1788273202.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/addtoany.min.css@ver=1.16.css)  (https://cdispatch.com/wp-json/tribe/events/v1/)  (../../../e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png@strip=all&resize=32,32)  (../../../e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png@strip=all&resize=192,192)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png?strip=all&resize=180%2C180)      (index.html#content) Skip to content (Site search)  (index.html#) Sections    (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries  (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition  (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate     (https://cdispatch.com/) (Dispatch Mobile Logo)   (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=offer_button&utm_content=top) Subscribe  (https://cdispatch.com/login-page) Login      (search...)    September 10, 2026     QUICK LINKS (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries  (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition  (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate   (https://cdispatch.com/news/) News  (https://cdispatch.com/news/columbus-lowndes-county/) Columbus & Lowndes County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/starkville-oktibbeha-county/) Starkville & Oktibbeha County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/west-point-clay-county/) West Point & Clay County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/area/) Area  (https://cdispatch.com/news/state/) State  (https://cdispatch.com/news/national/) National  (https://cdispatch.com/news/business/) Business   (https://cdispatch.com/sports/) Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/high-school-sports/) High School Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/college-sports/) College Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/local-columns-sports/) Local Columns   (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition   (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events   (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/) Opinions  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/local-columns/) Local Columns  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/) Letters to the Editor  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/roses-thorns/) Roses & Thorns  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/dispatch-editorials/) Dispatch Editorials   (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries   (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/) Lifestyles  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/columns-lifestyle/) Columns  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/entertainment/) Entertainment  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/food/) Food  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/transitions-announcements/) Transitions & Announcements  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/community/) Community  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/religion/) Religion   (http://ads.cdispatch.com/) Classifieds   (https://cdispatch.com/gallery/) Photo Galleries   (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/) Public Records  (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/building-permits/) Building Permits  (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/marriages-divorces/) Marriages & Divorces   (https://cdispatch.com/subscriber-profile/) My Account        September 10, 2026   (https://cdispatch.com/) (Dispatch Logo) Open eyes, open minds.     Serving Columbus & Starkville, Mississippi        (https://cdispatch.com/) Home  » (https://cdispatch.com/news/) News  » Buddy Stephens hires attorney to fight firing from EMCC   (https://cdispatch.com/news/area/) Area   Buddy Stephens hires attorney to fight firing from EMCC College argues former head football coach was ‘at-will’ employee By ZACK PLAIR AND JARED CONERLY / (https://cdispatch.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection) [email protected] ; (https://cdispatch.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection) [email protected]  • 20 hours ago  2 mins to read  (Buddy Stephens hires attorney to fight firing from EMCC)   Buddy Stephens  SCOOBA – Buddy Stephens, the former head football coach for East Mississippi Community College, has lawyered up to fight his termination from the school. Stephens coached 18 seasons at EMCC, leading the Lions to five junior college national championships. He was also a prominent figure in the first two seasons of the Netflix documentary “Last Chance U,” which chronicled the team’s 2015 and 2016 campaigns. In response to a public records request, EMCC’s human resources department provided The Dispatch a document Tuesday that shows Aug. 31 as Stephens’ “end of employment.” That is the same day the (https://cdispatch.com/news/18-year-vet-buddy-stephens-out-as-lions-head-coach/) college announced he had been replaced as head coach. His dismissal came on the heels of comments he made to a Dispatch reporter during a media day in August, (https://cdispatch.com/sports/new-maccc-playoff-format-buddy-stephens-is-not-a-fan/) where he criticized EMCC and Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference officials for MACCC’s new playoff format. Specifically, he called the system “junkified” and the leadership responsible for coming up with it “idiots.” “I was very surprised at how it came out because there were actual people who have doctorates that came up with this,” Stephens said at the time. Conference leadership is composed of presidents from member institutions, including EMCC President Scott Alsobrooks. On the same day Stephens was dismissed, Alsobrooks issued a statement disavowing the former coach’s comments and apologizing on behalf of EMCC. Stephens has not commented on the record about his firing, instead referring all questions to his attorney, Jim Waide of Tupelo. Waide told The Dispatch on Tuesday he is representing Stephens on constitutional grounds. “Buddy Stephens has made a remarkable contribution to Mississippi by speaking out on a matter of public interest, which is a clear constitutional right,” Waide said. “Firing Buddy is a great disservice to Mississippi. We intend to do everything possible to remedy the wrong.” EMCC officials had remained tight-lipped about Stephens’ employment status prior to responding to The Dispatch’s public records request. The document the school provided notes Stephens was an at-will employee at EMCC and had no contract. Therefore, the school argues, his employment could be terminated at any time, with or without cause. Only the president and faculty employees have contracts, the document reads. Stephens’ salary, according to the document, was $145,966. (https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/copy_link?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdispatch.com%2Fnews%2Fbuddy-stephens-hires-attorney-to-fight-firing-from-emcc%2F&linkname=Buddy%20Stephens%20hires%20attorney%20to%20fight%20firing%20from%20EMCC) (Copy Link)  (https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdispatch.com%2Fnews%2Fbuddy-stephens-hires-attorney-to-fight-firing-from-emcc%2F&linkname=Buddy%20Stephens%20hires%20attorney%20to%20fight%20firing%20from%20EMCC) (Email)  (https://www.addtoany.com/share)      You can help your community Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.   (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=offer_button&utm_content=below-article-cta) Subscribe    You can help your community Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.   (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=offer_button&utm_content=below-article-cta) Subscribe     READER FAVORITES (https://cdispatch.com/news/caledonia-aldermen-ok-raising-property-taxes-by-17/) (Caledonia aldermen OK raising property taxes by 17%) (Caledonia aldermen OK raising property taxes by 17%)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/caledonia-aldermen-ok-raising-property-taxes-by-17/) (Caledonia aldermen OK raising property taxes by 17%) Caledonia aldermen OK raising property taxes by 17%  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/bsimmons/) Braden Simmons  • 2 days ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/soul-night-serves-as-swan-song-for-skate-zone-in-columbus/) (Soul Night serves as swan song for Skate Zone in Columbus) (Soul Night serves as swan song for Skate Zone in Columbus)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/soul-night-serves-as-swan-song-for-skate-zone-in-columbus/) (Soul Night serves as swan song for Skate Zone in Columbus) Soul Night serves as swan song for Skate Zone in Columbus  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/bsimmons/) Braden Simmons  • 2 days ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/community-profile-wise-beyond-his-age-coach-leads-cca-baseball-at-21/) (Community Profile: ‘Wise beyond his age’ coach leads CCA baseball at 21) (Community Profile: ‘Wise beyond his age’ coach leads CCA baseball at 21)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/community-profile-wise-beyond-his-age-coach-leads-cca-baseball-at-21/) (Community Profile: ‘Wise beyond his age’ coach leads CCA baseball at 21) Community Profile: ‘Wise beyond his age’ coach leads CCA baseball at 21  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/jconerlycdispatch-com/) Jared Conerly  • 2 days ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/oktibbeha-expects-4-7-million-more-from-property-taxes-next-year/) (Oktibbeha expects $4.7 million more from property taxes next year) (Oktibbeha expects $4.7 million more from property taxes next year)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/oktibbeha-expects-4-7-million-more-from-property-taxes-next-year/) (Oktibbeha expects $4.7 million more from property taxes next year) Oktibbeha expects $4.7 million more from property taxes next year  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/pgreencdispatch-com/) Paloma Green  • 20 hours ago              (https://cdispatch.com/popular-content/) Popular  (https://cdispatch.com/news/caledonia-aldermen-ok-raising-property-taxes-by-17/) Caledonia aldermen OK raising property taxes by 17%  September 8, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/news/soul-night-serves-as-swan-song-for-skate-zone-in-columbus/) Soul Night serves as swan song for Skate Zone in Columbus  September 8, 2026     (index.html) Buddy Stephens hires attorney to fight firing from EMCC  September 9, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/news/community-profile-wise-beyond-his-age-coach-leads-cca-baseball-at-21/) Community Profile: ‘Wise beyond his age’ coach leads CCA baseball at 21  September 8, 2026         On This Day in 2025  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/sites-bites-cheeseballs-deserve-equal-billing-with-dips/) (Sites & Bites: Cheeseballs deserve equal billing with dips)    (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/sites-bites-cheeseballs-deserve-equal-billing-with-dips/) Sites & Bites: Cheeseballs deserve equal billing with dips  September 10, 2025 By Kara Kimbrough          Featured Podcasts  (https://www.buzzsprout.com/645052) (The C Dispatch Podcast)   (https://cdispatch.com/podcast/) (Between The Headlines Podcast)        (https://cdispatch.com/) (The Dispatch)   Serving Columbus & Starkville, Mississippi. (https://www.facebook.com/TheDispatch/)   (https://www.instagram.com/cdispatch/)   (https://x.com/cdispatch)    (https://cdispatch.com/about/) About  (https://cdispatch.com/tips/) Submit a Tip    Newsletter Our headlines, delivered to your inbox. Sign up for Morning Shot , our flagship daily briefing of the day's news.  (1)  Email address (you@example.com)  Sign up  ()   (https://cdispatch.com/newsletters/) See all newsletters → Free. Unsubscribe anytime.       Info (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://progressmag.com) Progress Magazine  (https://lowndesil.org) Free Books for Kids  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate for Journalism     Contact (tel:6623282424) (662) 328-2424  Newsroom 516 Main Street Columbus, MS 39701 Mailing PO Box 511 Columbus, MS 39703       Copyright © 2026 Commercial Dispatch Publishing Co., Inc.  (https://cdispatch.com/terms/) Terms (https://cdispatch.com/privacy/) Privacy       Unlock this article. Just sign in. Have an account? Sign in. New here? Get more access in seconds. Email Address () (Enter your email)    Continue  Yes! I would like to receive content in my inbox.       Keep reading - subscribe today You're one step away from unlimited access to the most in-depth Golden Triangle reporting available. (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/) Get Unlimited Access      (index.html#top) (ToTop)