Coaches

 

Arkansas State University - Master's degree in education leadership Mississippi State University - Bachelor's degree in kinesiology Winston Academy - High school diploma

Mr. Michael Hindman

Michael Hindman enters his first season as the Belmont High School head baseball coach and his twelfth season overall as a high school coach. Previously, Hindman spent five years coaching at Newton County High school, under Coach Wyatt Tullos Jr., where he served as the team's pitching/catching coach (two years) and teams hitting coach (three years). All five years at NCHS, Hindman served as an assistant football coach/running backs. Prior to Newton County, Hindman was an assistant coach/head junior high coach at Union High School from 2013-2016. He helped guide the Yellowjackets to four consecutive playoff appearances in both baseball and football. In 2012, he completed his student teaching at West Lauderdale High School, where he was an assistant baseball coach under legendary coach Jerry Boatner, and helped guide the Knights to a South State Runner-up title. His coaching career began at his alma mater Winston Academy in Louisville, Mississippi, in 2010 where he was an assistant baseball and football coach. 

A three sport athlete at Winston Academy in baseball, football, and track, he earned All-State selections in both baseball and football. A four year starter in baseball for the Patriots, he helped lead them to a 22-9 record, a division championship, and 2A North State runner-up during his senior season in 2007. Hindman signed with Mississippi College out of high school as an outfielder. During the 2008 season the Choctaws finished second place in the ASC Eastern Division with a 24-19 record. Hindman later transferred to East Central Community College and then on to Crichton College where he started 38 games and appeared in 44 games for the Comets during the 2009 season. 

Hindman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Mississippi State University as well as a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Arkansas State University. He is an active member of the Mississippi Association of Coaches, American Baseball Coaches Association, Mississippi Baseball Coaches Association, Crossroads Diamond Club and the Bigger Than Ball Foundation. 

He is married to the former Tori McInnis; they have one son, Peyson (2), and are expecting their second child in August of 2022. 

 

Mississippi State University - B.A. in elementary education Belmont High School

Mr. P.J. Cleveland

Coach Cleveland is a 2001 graduate of Belmont High School. During his time at Belmont, he was a four year starter for the baseball team (1998-2001) and a three year starter for the football team (1998-2001). During this time he was chosen 1st team all-division in baseball (1999-2001) and 1st team all-division in football (1999-2001). He went on to play baseball for two years (2002-2004) at Northeast Mississippi Community College. He earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Mississippi State University. He served as a para-professional for Belmont Baseball from 2016-2018. He joined the faculty at Belmont High School in 2019 and has served as an assistant coach/pitching coach for Belmont Baseball since then. In 2020, he also began serving as an assistant coach/quarterback-defensive backs coach for the Belmont football team. Coach Cleveland is married to Nikki Cleveland, and they have three children, Cutler, Kiptyn, and Covee Mae. 

 

University of Mississippi - Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education/Social Studies (2014) Itawamba Community College - Associate degree (2011) Belmont High School (2007)

Mr. Andy Strickland

Coach Strickland graduated from Belmont High School in 2007 and continued his education at Itawamba Community College. He then finished his undergraduate degree in 2014 at the University of Mississippi, where he earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education with a focus in social studies. He began his teaching and coaching career at Tishomingo Middle School in 2015. He served as the head football and head baseball coach at TMS until 2019. He has served as an assistant football coach at Belmont High School since 2015. After joining the faculty at Belmont High School in 2019, he continued serving as an assistant football coach and also began serving as the junior high head football coach. Coach Strickland has also been an assistant baseball coach since 2019 and served as the assistant basketball coach for the boys from 2019-2021.