William Carey University announces Carey Athletics promotions

Coach Tracy English has been named director of athletics at William Carey University.

English has served as interim director since September, replacing D.J. Pulley, who held the post for six years. English is in his 33rd season with Carey Athletics. He is a two-time Carey graduate (’86, ’90) and played basketball for Coach Steve Knight from 1980-84.  

A Hattiesburg High School graduate, English was named Southern States Athletic Conference’s Coach of the Year for this season. His women’s basketball team won the conference championship and made it to the second round of the national championship – finishing with a 22-5 record.

Two more former Carey athletes, both current coaches, were also promoted to leadership positions:

• Jessica Garriga, a graduate of Hancock High School and 2004 William Carey alum, was named associate head coach for women’s basketball.  An all-conference player for the Crusaders, Garriga joined the coaching staff in 2015.  In addition to coaching, she is also assistant athletic director and teaches in the mathematics department. 
• Ben Smith, who graduated from Laurel High School, is the new assistant director of athletics for external relations. As a WCU student, Smith played for legendary baseball coach Bobby Halford and has served as an assistant under Halford for 15 seasons. He holds two degrees from Carey (’08, ’12) and teaches history as well. Smith will also become associate head coach for Carey’s baseball team on June 1.

 “WCU has a long tradition of excellence in athletics. Not only are our athletes successful on the field, with a long line of conference championships and national rankings, they won the state’s Halbrook award this year for the highest graduation rate among athletes at independent colleges,” WCU President Ben Burnett said.

“This culture of success has been built over decades with a commitment to student-athletes and the university. Promoting former players and graduates of Carey is an investment in the future of our students.” 

Carey Athletics was also honored in April by the Mississippi Legislature with a joint Senate and House resolution recognizing the program’s growth and achievement.