BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Alcorn State University athletics shined bright on Saturday evening as two of its own were inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame 2023 Class. Issiac Holt and Charles McClelland were named to the hall of fame for their prolific achievements at Alcorn and in the SWAC.
Holt, a native of Birmingham, Alabama graduated from Carver High School in 1980. He attended Alcorn State University and competed on the football team from 1981-84. He contributed six interceptions, 36 tackles, and one fumble recovery in his debut season. In 1982, he tallied seven interceptions, 38 tackles, and deflected 10 passes enroute to claiming All-SWAC Honors. The collegiate stand-out tallied six interceptions, 36 tackles along with All-SWAC Honors and NCAA Division FCS All-American Honors.
During the 1984 season he was a member of an Alcorn State team that claimed SWAC and Black College National Championship titles with a 9-0 overall record and a 7-0 record in league play. Holt tallied four consecutive seasons with six or more interceptions and recorded 25 tackles, seven pass deflections and one interception return for a touchdown. He ended his collegiate career with 24 interceptions.
He would go on to compete in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings (1985-89), and Dallas Cowboys (1989-93) while concluding his NFL career with 23 interceptions, and seven block punts.
McClelland began his collegiate career at Alcorn State in 1960 majoring in Health and Physical Education. For the duration of his enrollment at Alcorn State, he lettered four consecutive seasons in the sports of Basketball and Track and Field. McClelland served as a key contributor for Alcorn State on the hardwood, most notably playing in 44 games from 1960-62 while tallying 168 field goals, 415 points and 122 rebounds. He alternated between the guard and forward positions in basketball while also excelling in track and field as a high jumper.
His academic and athletic career at Alcorn was the springboard to an exceptional career in the fields of Education and Administration. McClelland's professional career began upon graduating from Alcorn when he accepted the position of Athletic Director, Basketball Coach and Science Teacher at East Side High School in Cleveland, Mississippi. His tenure at East Side was only the start of his successful career with his accomplishments there including leading his team to the Finals of the first Magnolia High School Activities Association Tournament (1965-66).
He was named Coach of the Year of the Delta Zone of the Big Eight Division Conference (1966) and Coach of the Year of the Delta Division of the Big Eight Conference (1967). His team qualified to participate in the Mississippi State Basketball Tournament in 1968 and won the last State (NFA) Negro Farmers of America Tournament.
McClelland was appointed and served on the Mississippi State Board of Education under Governors Haley Barbour and Phil Bryant. While on the board, He served as Vice Chair from 2008-10, and Chairman from 2010-12.
