June 1, 2026

East Mississippi Community College Dean of Scooba Campus/College Advancement Tony Montgomery retired at the end of May after nearly 30 years as a student athlete, baseball coach and administrator at the college.

“EMCC will always be a big part of who I am,” Montgomery said. “You can’t spend that much time dedicated to the people, mission and culture of one place without it becoming part of your identity.”

Montgomery’s first brush with EMCC began in 1992 as an all-state baseball selection under then Lions head coach Bill Baldner. Montgomery, a 2020 EMCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee, posted a career batting average of .340 with nine home runs and 62 runs batted in during the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

Since that time, Montgomery has worn many hats at EMCC, serving most recently as dean of the Scooba campus, where he also oversaw the Transportation, Facilities & Grounds Management, Campus Police, and Food Services departments.

Additionally, in the spring of 2022 Montgomery was named the executive director of College Advancement, which included overseeing the Athletics Department and spearheading the EMCC Development Foundation, the college’s fundraising arm that supports academics, athletic programs and capital building projects. Major annual fundraising events include Birdies & Boil Golf Tournament and Shrimp Boil, the EMCC-Old Waverly Golf Classic, and the Sporting Clays Challenge Cup.

“We are grateful to Tony for his distinguished service and lasting contributions to our Scooba campus and to EMCC as a whole,” EMCC President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said. “His leadership and commitment to EMCC have made a meaningful and enduring impact.”

Montgomery’s transition from baseball player to EMCC administrator didn’t happen overnight, and there were some detours.

After graduating from EMCC, Montgomery transferred to Delta State University, where he helped lead the Statesmen to a two-year composite record of 85-28 overall and 38-9 in conference play.

After earning a Master of Physical Education from Delta State University, Montgomery returned to EMCC where he served eight years as an assistant baseball coach under head coach Bill Baldner. It was not a paid position, so Montgomery worked part-time in the maintenance department.

He also taught night and online classes and was eventually promoted to director of housing. In 2004, Montgomery transitioned into administration as assistant dean of students.

In 2007, Baldner accepted another position, and Montgomery was named EMCC’s head baseball coach, serving in that role for four years. Montgomery later accepted a job as baseball coach at Columbus High School, working there for 13 months before returning to EMCC in 2011 as dean of students for the Scooba campus.

Montgomery resided on EMCC’s Scooba campus for two years as a student and lived in on-campus housing there for 27 years while working for the college. Montgomery and his wife Christine recently purchased a home in Columbus.

“For me, the Scooba campus has always been home,” Montgomery said. “I’ve made lifelong friends there who I will miss seeing every day. EMCC has been good for me. I’ve been blessed to have a career where I could do something I love and am passionate about. Serving students as a coach and administrator has been an honor I will cherish for the rest of my life.”