The Ranger Hour Sponsored by BankFirst

This week on Ranger Hour, host Gary Darby is joined by Northwest Mississippi Community College Sports Information Director Caleb Burggraaf and Associate Vice President for Community Relations Dr. Andrew Dale for a wide-ranging look at everything happening across Northwest. Caleb Burggraaf previews the upcoming Ranger athletics season, including a challenging football schedule featuring nationally...

Northwest Mississippi Community College's nationally recognized rodeo program takes center stage on this week's Ranger Hour as freshman barrel racer Raegan Chance and head coach Will Lummus recap an unforgettable trip to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming. Raegan reflects on an incredible freshman season that culminated in finishing as the National Intercollegiate Rodeo As...

Ranger Hour – Northwest Athletics, Academic Excellence, and Student Success Across the Region This week on Ranger Hour, host Gary Darby sits down with Northwest Mississippi Community College coaches Mark Carson and LaTaryl Williams to recap two outstanding seasons and discuss the future of Ranger Athletics. Coach Carson reflects on a 34-win baseball season, a trip to the NJCAA Region 23 Championsh...

This week on Ranger Hour, Gary Darby sits down with Dr. Blake Bostick, Director of the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts, to unveil an exciting Fall 2026 lineup packed with entertainment for every audience. Dr. Bostick discusses the arrival of legendary comedian Bill Engvall, Christian music star Danny Gokey, Motown icons The Four Tops, country hitmakers Lonestar, and Mickey Dolenz, celebratin...

On this episode of Ranger Hour, host Gary Darby highlights several exciting developments across Northwest Mississippi Community College, beginning with the announcement of the newly established Bobby Ray Franklin Memorial Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship, funded by Northwest alumnus and former football coach Michael Joe Cannon, honors legendary Northwest and Ole Miss football figure Bobby Ray...

This week’s episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour highlighted Northwest Mississippi Community College’s growing workforce and career-technical education opportunities, featuring an in-depth conversation with Brad Rowe, Director of Diesel Technology at Northwest’s Concourse in Batesville. Rowe shared how the Diesel Technology program has expanded dramatically over the past five years—from 12 studen...

On this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour, Northwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Michael Heindl provides a comprehensive “State of Northwest” update, highlighting the college’s continued momentum in enrollment growth, academic expansion, workforce training, athletics, and campus development. Dr. Heindl shared that Northwest has achieved 13 consecutive semesters of enrollment gr...

On this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour, host Gary Darby sits down with Northwest Mississippi Community College men’s and women’s tennis coach, Ryan Mounce, to discuss one of the most successful seasons in recent Northwest tennis history. Mounce reflects on the women’s team finishing fourth in conference play and earning a top-10 national finish after competing in Sumter, South Carolina, whi...

On this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour, Northwest Mississippi Community College takes center stage with a deep dive into the excitement surrounding Northwest Rodeo and a major weekend in Senatobia. Student-athlete Will Colliershares his journey from Missouri to Northwest, his development as a standout steer wrestler, and his pursuit of qualifying for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Assoc...

Gracie Perry (Northwest Foundation & Soiree Online Auction Co-Chair) Gracie Perry, Advancement Services Coordinator at Northwest Mississippi Community College, joins the show to highlight the growing impact of the Northwest Soiree online auction. Now in its fourth year, the auction features more than 100 items ranging from exclusive sports experiences and beach getaways to local art and unique...

Lynn Fitch (Alumni Professional Achievement Award Recipient) Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch joins the show to discuss her journey from Northwest Mississippi Community College to becoming the state’s first female attorney general. She reflects on how her time at Northwest shaped her values, relationships, and commitment to public service, while also highlighting key initiatives such as com...

Patty Gordon joins the show to highlight the upcoming Northwest Soiree: A Garden Gala, set for April 18 at the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts. She shares how the Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation continues to impact students through scholarships, alumni engagement, and fundraising initiatives. Listeners will learn what to expect at this year’s signature event, including the...

Jeff Triplett – Entertainment Industry Studies & Ranger Records Jeff Triplett, Coordinator of Entertainment Industry Studies at Northwest Mississippi Community College, joins the show to highlight the innovative Ranger Records initiative and the hands-on opportunities available to students in the music industry program. Triplett shares the story behind the program’s first-ever vinyl album rele...

On this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour, Northwest Mississippi Community College spotlighted a major week in Ranger Athletics, led by the NWCC women’s basketball team winning the NJCAA Region 23 Championship and preparing for the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The show also featured an in-depth baseball update as the Rangers continue thr...

Northwest Mississippi Community College athletics takes center stage on this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour(Thursday, March 5, 2026), as host Gary Darby welcomes Adam Payne, head coach of Ranger men’s and women’s golf. Coach Payne breaks down a strong start to the spring, including the women’s team ranked No. 10 nationally and standout freshman Annalie Little (a DeSoto County product) ranke...

Caroline Hamm, a two-time NJCAA national champion with the Northwest Mississippi Community College Women’s Soccer program, joins this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour to reflect on a remarkable run in Senatobia and what comes next. Hamm shares her journey from Saltillo High School—where she won back-to-back state championships and earned MVP honors—to becoming a key part of a Northwest squad...

Northwest Mississippi Community College keeps the spring sports momentum going on the Feb. 19, 2026 episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour , beginning with an in-depth conversation with NWCC Tennis Head Coach Ryan Mounce . Coach Mounce previews a major home matchup against Jones College at the Ranger Outdoor Complex and reflects on building a competitive, sophomore-heavy roster in his first season...

On the February 12, 2026 episode of The Bank First Ranger Hour, host Gary Darbyspotlights a packed day of Northwest Mississippi Community College athletics and campus energy—plus a fun listener giveaway for Archie Manning In Conversation at the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts (Live Radio Only). The show opens with updates on a big Thursday in Senatobia, including a marquee basketball matchup...

Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s basketball takes center stage on this February 5 edition of the Bank First Ranger Hour as host Gary Darby visits with Lady Rangers head coach LaTaryl Williams and standout post player Alorian Story. Coach Williams breaks down a strong start to the season, the value of veteran leadership, and the challenges of MACCC play as Northwest pushes toward the...

Meet the newest team leader at Northwest Mississippi Community College athletics as Wyndham Whatley, the fifth head coach of the Ranger men’s soccer program, joins Gary Darby on the Bank First Ranger Hour. Coach Whatley shares his Mississippi roots, his playing days and early coaching path at Mississippi Gulf Coast, and what drew him to Northwest—calling the program a “sleeping giant” with untappe...

The Bank First Ranger Hour for Thursday, January 15 spotlights two big pieces of Northwest Mississippi Community College life: Ranger Athletics and world-class entertainment at the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts . Host Gary Darby previews what’s ahead for Northwest Softball , shares key updates on Rangers and Lady Rangers basketball , and then walks listeners through the Heindl Center’s exc...

Northwest Mississippi Community College is gearing up for the Spring 2026 semester on this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour. Host Gary Darby visits with Aaron Payne, NWCC eLearning Support Specialist, for a practical breakdown of how online learning works at Northwest—along with key start dates for the term (in-person classes begin Monday, Jan. 12; online courses begin Tuesday, Jan. 20) and i...

Tune in to the Bank First Ranger Hour as host Gary Darby spotlights what’s happening across Northwest Mississippi Community College. This episode features Kristin Davis , Associate Vice President of Academic Instruction, sharing an inside look at Northwest’s student-focused classroom experience, academic pathways, and the benefits of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) —including eligibility (12+ transferable h...

In this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour, host Gary Darby spotlights what’s happening now at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Registrar Dr. Angela Dortch shares details on Fall 2025 graduation, including multiple commencement ceremonies and the School of Health Sciences pinning, plus what students need to know about priority registration for the...

Step into this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour as guest host  Hayden King  spotlights two of Northwest Mississippi Community College’s biggest headliners: a world-touring tap sensation and a back-to-back national championship coach. From the stage of the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts to the pitch at Northwest, it’s a full hour of arts, athletics, and all things Rangers. In...