Coach Jim "Big Nasty" Carmody
Coach Jim "Big Nasty" Carmody, 89, of Madison, Mississippi passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS.
A private service and interment will be held on January 12, 2023. A public memorial visitation and tribute will follow at 3:00 pm at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson.
Jim Carmody was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on August 24, 1933, to Mr. and Mrs. James Edward Carmody, Sr. He spent most of his youth in New Orleans.
He graduated from Holy Cross High School. After high school, he played football at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, MS and went on to finish his college football career at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. After graduating from Tulane, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army.
In 1956, he was stationed in Korea, where he had his first coaching opportunity. In an effort to boost unit morale, the Army advertised for a football coach. Jim Carmody was the man for the job and subsequently his love for coaching the game of football was awakened. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to coach at Holy Cross High School.
Mr. Carmody then took on the role as graduate assistant football coach at Tulane where he received his master’s degree. Coach Carmody coached football at the following schools: Kentucky, Mississippi State (twice), North Carolina, Southern Mississippi (twice; Head Coach; earned the title “Big Nasty”), Ole Miss (twice), and Mississippi College. Coach Carmody’s well known and respected career also lead him to the NFL where he was an assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills and a scout for the Arizona Cardinals. Many awards were given to Coach Carmody throughout his career.
Most notable: Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Southern Miss Hall of Fame, Copiah-Lincoln Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame.
Jim was married to the former Earlyn “Noonie” Regouffre, also of New Orleans, for 63 years. Together, they raised four sons: Steve Carmody (Nena), Brian Carmody (Bridget), Keith Carmody (Kelly), and Chris Carmody. They are blessed with six grandchildren: Chase Carmody (Shannon), Caitlin Carmody Cox (Justin), Mackenzie Carmody, Connor Carmody, Caroline Carmody, and Mary Blair Carmody and four great-grandchildren.
Jim is survived by his wife, Noonie, their four sons and their families, a host of beloved nieces and nephews, and an abundance of loved ones. Coach Jim Carmody was preceded in death by his parents, James and Bema Carmody, and his sister, Elizabeth Carmody Gonzalez of Baton Rouge, LA.
Memorial donations may be made to the Jim Carmody Scholarship (USM) or the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.