https://www.holmesathletics.com/general/2025-26/releases/20250904fflcpx

Branch Coliseum renovation nearing completion

When Holmes Community College basketball fans return to Frank B. Branch Coliseum on the Goodman Campus in November, they won't believe their eyes as the coliseum is currently being transformed into one like no other.

Branch Coliseum opened in 1973 when Frank Branch was president of the College and Bill Waller was governor and William Winter was lieutenant governor. Brumfield and Craig served as architects and W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Company was the contractor.

Over the years, Holmes dedicated resources to transform the front entry to highlight outstanding athletic alumni as members of the Holmes Community College Sports Hall of Fame. They renovated locker rooms, updated playing surface lights and sound systems and restrooms, and changed designs on the playing surface, but this latest commitment to the playing arena is endless.

The construction project began the week after spring graduation in May. JH&H Architects Planners Interiors PA was chosen as the architect and Pike Construction of Mississippi was chosen as the general contractor.

Crews came in and removed the championship banners from the walls and removed the ceiling tiles, old sound system and lights. They took down the four practice goals and two main goals. They installed four new motorized practice goals. They then installed the new ceiling grids and ran electrical for the new lights for the court and seating area and ran wires for the new sound system. Crews closed in both ends of the court with sheetrock and ran electrical with a video board being installed on the north end.

After the new lights were installed Covington Floors from Tennessee began tearing out the wood floor all the way to the concrete base and began installing a new wood floor from the base up. At this point in the project, the crew has the floor installed and has begun marking the playing surface with a new design.

In the past, Branch Coliseum has had ceiling mounted goals for the playing surface but now rolling goals will be used. Once the floor design has cured, these goals will be put in place for upcoming practices and games.

Final touches will be made on the video board, sound system and lighting so the facility will be ready for the first contests beginning in early November as the Holmes Lady Bulldogs play Co-Lin on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

Also this summer, the coliseum had a new roof installed.

For JH&H, Paul Bagley serves as the principal architect while Joshua Jeffcoat is the project architect and Dane Broadfoot is the project manager. For Pike, James Brock is the vice president while Hugh Mathis is the general superintendent and Tony Richardson is the project superintendent.