Harper Hudnall has big shoes to fill, as he will be taking over a job most recently held by Mississippi’s winningest high school basketball coach.
Madison-Ridgeland Academy announced Hudnall as the frontman of its boys hoops program on Tuesday. He will take over for Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Richard Duease, whom he observed as an assistant for four seasons. Duease hands the reins to Hudnall after capping a 50-plus-year career with nearly 1,900 wins, 42 state titles, and 16 MAIS overall tournament championships. The duo most recently helped lead the Patriots to an overall title in February, defeating Jackson Academy 65-53.
“This program has meant so much to me, and I’m honored to now help lead it into its next chapter,” Hudnall said.
Along with serving on Duease’s staff, Hudnall was MRA’s junior high head coach, where his teams won championships in 2025 and 2026. A former student-athlete at the private school outside of Jackson, Hudnall played for the Patriots from 2013-16, where he was coached by none other than Duease.
During his playing days, MRA won a pair of MAIS overall titles. Hudnall was the starting point guard and tabbed All-MAIS in 2016. After his playing career, Hudnall returned to MRA to begin his coaching career and has spent the past six seasons on the Patriot basketball staff.
“Simply put, Harper Hudnall is MRA. His family moved to Madison in 2010, where he enjoyed an outstanding career as a multisport student-athlete. His blood, sweat, and tears are in these hardwoods. As a player and now head coach, Harper has been learning from and mentored by the very best in Coach Richard Duease,” MRA athletics director Ross Hailey said. “He is a teacher and mentor in his own right, passionate about the student-athlete experience, both on and off the floor. Harper knows what it takes to achieve excellence. He’s a champion.”