University Walk-On Procedure

Philosophy. The Athletics Department is committed to providing participation opportunities for non-scholarship students.  However, it is necessary to maintain a balance between the minimum number of student-athletes needed on a team and the costs and resources required to provide support and services for additional participants.  Therefore, each team has a cap on the total number of participants. Eligible and medically qualified students who were not recruited or awarded an athletics scholarship will be provided opportunities to participate on a University intercollegiate team.

Process.  Students interested in becoming a team member must contact the sport's coaching staff (see contact list below) to determine if spaces are available and the date when a try-out will be conducted.  Retention will be based on athletic ability, team needs, and the number of slots available.    

Minimum Requirements to Try-out.   Before any student is permitted to participate in a  try-out (maximum of seven days) they must meet these minimum requirements and receive an approval letter from the Compliance Office:

  1.  Admitted to the University as a full-time student.

  2.  Complete a physical examination and physical stress test.

  3.  Produce proof of health insurance with a minimum of $1,000 deductible.

Minimum Requirements to Practice and Compete.  If retained after the try-out (or included in the team limit prior to try-outs) the following additional requirements must be completed before the student will be permitted to practice and compete:

  1.  Register with and be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center (required for both high school and two-year college students).

  2.  Participate in an institutional compliance orientation meeting in which mandatory NCAA, SEC, and institutional forms must be  completed.

  3.  Name added to the squad list and certified by the appropriate institutional officials.

Start Dates.  A limited number of walk-ons may be included in a team's pre-season practice for those teams which begin practice prior to the start of classes.  Coaches must submit the names of those walk-ons to the Compliance Office prior to the start of classes.  Others will participate in a try-out after classes have begun. Contact the coach in your sport (listed below) for more information.   

Waivers.  Because of limited resources, the University will not submit waivers or appeals to the NCAA or SEC for students who do not meet minimum eligibility requirements.  There are too many qualified applicants and too few staff members and team slots to justify lobbying the NCAA or SEC for exceptions.  Participation is a privilege and not a right.

Drug Testing.  All team members are required to participate in a mandatory drug test during the year.  A positive test may result in the student being dismissed from the team.

Medical History Forms.  As a part of the physical examination, student-athlete candidates are required to complete certain medical history and permission to treat forms.  They can be found online at www.olemisssports.com (click Athletics, then Athletics Training, then Medical Documentation).    

Continuing Eligibility. Students who are selected for team membership, but fail to meet their eligibility requirements for competition the following season, will have one semester in which they may practice only and correct their deficiency before being dismissed from the team.      

Number of Participation Opportunities.  If a student is not selected for team membership after participating in a try-out, the student is permitted to participate in future try-outs.  However, once the student has been selected for team membership but later quits the team, additional opportunities will be provided only with the approval of the AD.

 

Contact Information

NCAA Eligibility Center       

662-915-7211

www.ncaaclearinghouse.net        

University Admission's Office

877-262-1492 

www.olemiss.edu

Sports Medicine

Shannon Singletary

shannon@olemiss.edu

662-915-7246

Baseball                      

Fuller Smith                

fcsmith@olemiss.edu

662-915-7795

Men's Basketball       

Robi Coker

rocker@olemiss.edu           

662-915-5477            

Men and Women's Cross Country

Doug Blackwell

ndouglas@olemiss.edu

662-915-7523

Football

Clifton Ealy

cjealy@olemiss.edu

662-915-2789

Men's Golf

Jack O'Keefe

jfokeefe@olemiss.edu

662-234-8368

Men's Tennis

Tobias Hansson

thansson@olemiss.edu

662-915-7590

Men's Track & Field

Greg Stringer

gfstring@olemiss.edu

662-915-7594

Women's Basketball

Margie Gill

mbgill@olemiss.edu

662-915-7513

Women's Golf

Janell Howland

janell@olemiss.edu

662-816-2099

Women's Rifle

Valerie Boothe

vradcock@olemiss.edu

662-915-1082

Women's Soccer

Rob Thompson

rthomps3@olemiss.edu

662-915-1294

Women's Softball

Mike Perniciaro

mpernici@olemiss.edu

662-915-1550

Women's Tennis

Jason Ontog

jontog@olemiss.edu

662-915-7590

Women'sTrack, & Field

Vanitta Kinard

vkinard@olemiss.edu

662-915-1811

Women's Volleyball

Sean Burdette

sburdette@olemiss.edu

662-915-7883

 

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