SOX Instructors

Jud Thigpen (SOX Instructor)

• 3 year starter (OF) at Delta State (2001-2004) 
• National champions (2004)
• NJCAA Division II player of the year (2004)
• Easton defensive player of the year (2004)
• Owns the record for most hits in a season at DSU
• 2 time NJCAA Division II All American at DSU
• Played professional baseball for the Colorado Rockies (2004-2007)
• Canadian American league all star team – Brockton Rox (2008-2009)

Bret Basham (SOX Instructor)

• Ranked in the top 150 high school players in '05 by Baseball America
• Selected to play in the Perfect Game National Showcase featuring top 175 players in the US (played with major leaguers such as Justin Upton, Chris Volstad, Cameron Maybin, and Lastings Milledge)
• Ranked the number 2 player in the state of Tennessee by Baseball America
• Lettered 4 years at Ole Miss (2006-2009)
• 3 year starter at Ole Miss (2007-2009)
•  All-SEC selection (2008)
•  SEC defensive team as catcher (2008)
• Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round (2008)
• Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 50th round (2009)
• Currently plays professional baseball for the San Diego Padres

 Pete Young (SOX Instructor) 

• Drafted as a catcher by Cincinnati reds out of high school
• 3 year starter at 3rd base and closer at Mississippi State (1987-89)
• Played professional baseball for the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox (1989-97)
• Pitching Coach at Co-Lin Community College (1999-2004)
• Pitching Coach at Southwest Community College (2004-07)
• PSA Instructor (2007-Present)

• Played (catcher) at Mississippi State University (2004-2005)
• 2005 MSU team won the SEC Tourney
• Played (catcher) at Delta State University (2006)
• Received Master's Degree in Teaching/Coaching from MSU (June 2009)

Keith Fitzgerald  (SOX Instructor)

• Details Coming Soon

Nathan Purvis  (Sox Instructor)

• Details Coming Soon

• Drafted as a pitcher by the Chicago Cubs out of high school
• Played professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians (1971-1974)
• Head baseball coach at West Rome High School in Rome, Georgia (4 years)
• Head baseball coach at East Mississippi Community College (4 years)
• Head baseball coach at Mississippi Delta Community College (19 years)
• Part time associate scout with the Kansas City Royals (16 years)
• Minor League pitching coach (2 years)
• Teams won 12 Mississippi J.C. North Division Championships
• Teams won 8 Mississippi J.C. State Championships
• Teams won 4 NJCAA Region Championships
• Holds the record for most wins in Mississippi J.C. history (767 – 293)
• Coached 6 Major League Baseball players
• Retired from coaching in 2004 and began a pitching instruction program at PSA (1 year)
• Headmaster at Pinelake Christian School (4 1/2 years)
• SOX Director and conducts private pitching instruction (present)