Southeast Lauderdale football coach Calvin Hampton dies in wreck

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (WTOK) - A wreck on Highway 19 South Wednesday afternoon claimed the life of Southeast High School head football coach, Calvin Hampton.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. Andy West said the call came in to dispatch around 1 p.m. A 2008 Peterbilt tractor/trailer, driven by James Risher of Pulaski, was traveling south on Hwy 19. Risher was not injured. Hampton was traveling east on Long Creek Road. The two vehicles collided in the intersection of Hwy 19 and Long Creek Road.

Lauderdale County School District superintendent Dr. John-Mark Cain released a statement:

“The Lauderdale County School District is extremely saddened by the tragic loss of Southeast High School Head Football Coach Calvin Hampton. Coach Hampton was loved by his current and former players throughout Lauderdale County. His positive impact on the lives of our students and those he coached alongside will live on. We ask for continued thoughts and prayers for our Southeast schools and Coach Hampton’s family during this difficult time.”

Hampton was in his second year as head coach of the Southeast Tigers. Prior to that, he spent three years as head coach at Meridian High School, where he graduated in 1998.

“Coach Hampton was not only our friend, but a real leader and role model for our young men and women," said SE principal, Russell Keene. "He impacted so many lives all through his career, not just here at Southeast but through everywhere he has been. He would always have a little charisma about the things he did and he was really funny. He was really a bright light to us and he’s definitely going to be missed so deeply.”

Along with coaching football, Hampton also started and coached girls powerlifting at Southeast Lauderdale.

Southeast Lauderdale High School posted condolences on its Facebook page:

Words of sympathy came from others as well.

Adam Kramer was a friend and teammate of Hampton at the University of West Alabama. He posted a tribute to his buddy on Facebook Wednesday night.

Sgt. West says the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

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