By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

BAY ST. LOUIS — Saint Stanislaus College hosted the recent inductees of the Great Wall of Rocks for Athletics recently, and a pair of figures that enjoyed successful careers at SSC were honored.

Former Rock-A-Chaws head boys basketball head coach Jay L. Ladner and ex-SSC baseball standout Jacob S. Lindgren were inducted into the Great Wall of Rocks for Athletics in a ceremony over the weekend.

The Great Wall of Rocks for Athletics was created in 2003 and strives to provide recognition to former student-athletes, teams, coaches, and important support personnel for their outstanding contributions to the success of the athletic program at Saint Stanislaus College. These contributions can include, but are not limited to, the field of play while at SSC, the field of play following graduation, the promotion and development of the SSC athletic tradition as a coach, administrator, and support personnel to promote the SSC athletic tradition.

Ladner is the oldest son of Peggy and Larry Ladner of Kiln and spent 20 years at SSC as the head basketball coach. During his 20 seasons at the helm of the basketball program, he led the Rocks to 10 state tournaments, two state championship games, the 2011 Class 4A state championship, and eight Division 8-4A titles. Ladner remains the all-time winningest coach in school history with a record of 493-182 that include 17 20-win seasons and eight 30-win seasons. During the 2010-11 season, Ladner led the Rocks to the best season in program history with a record of 34-2 with 29 consecutive wins, the Division 8-4A title, Class 4A South State title, and Class 4A state championship.

Following his 20 years at SSC, Ladner coached one season at his alma mater Oak Grove High School and finished with a record of 18-11 to bring his high school record to 511-193. After his one season at Oak Grove, Ladner was hired as the head basketball coach at Jones College. In his second season at Jones, Ladner led the Bobcats to the NJCCAA national championship becoming the only Mississippi team and lowest seeded team to ever win the title. 

Following the season, Ladner was named the head basketball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University. He spent five seasons as the head coach of the Lions leading them to a regular-season Southland Conference championship and a berth in the NIT in 2018.

In 2019, Ladner was introduced as the head basketball coach at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has spent the last six seasons coaching his alma mater. In 2023, Ladner the Golden Eagles to a regular season Sun Belt Conference championship and a berth in the NIT. It was also the biggest turnaround in NCAA history as Ladner led the Eagles from just seven wins in 2022 to 25 wins in 2023. He was also named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year and the NABC District 23 Coach of the Year for his efforts. Ladner is set to return to the bench for his seventh season as head coach of the Golden Eagles for the 2025-26 season. 

Ladner and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of Chelsea and Luke, and the grandparents of James.

Lindgren, the son of Jacqueline and Steve Lindgren, spent six years at SSC and excelled in football and baseball during his time at the school. Early on, one could tell that Jacob was a gifted athlete. 

At SSC, Lindgren earned four varsity letters in both football and baseball. On the gridiron, he played defensive back and recorded 110 tackles with 42 solos, 8 tackles for loss, 7 fumble recoveries, 5 interceptions, and blocked a kick. He helped anchor a defensive backfield for SSC all the way to the 2009 Class 4A state championship.

But, it was the baseball diamond where Lindgren found his lasting success. As a senior, Lindgren was 8-0 on the mound with a 1.09 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched. At the plate, he hit .470 with 17 RBIs and 5 homeruns. He was named first team All-State following his senior campaign. 

As a junior, Lindgren posted a 6-2 record with a 1.45 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. At the plate, he batted .403 with 30 RBIs. 

In addition to playing football and baseball, Lindgren maintained Alpha Honor Roll status and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Ministry team. 

Lindgren was drafted in the 12th round of the 2011 MLB Draft making him the highest drafted player in Hancock County history; however, he opted to sign with the Mississippi State Bulldogs where he played for three seasons.

In Starkville, Lindgren posted a 12-6 record as a pitcher with a 2.64 ERA and 189 strikeouts. He led the Bulldogs to the SEC championship in 2012, the College World Series and national runner-up finish to UCLA in 2013, and was named a first team All-American by Baseball America and Perfect Game in 2014. 

In 2014. Lindgren was also a first team All-SEC selection and led the nation with 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He was a finalist for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, a semi-finalist for the Gregg Olson Award given to college baseball’s breakout player of the year, and a finalist for the Ferriss Award presented annually to the top collegiate baseball player in Mississippi. It was in 2014 that Lindgren earned the nickname “The Strikeout Factory.”

Lindgren was drafted with the 55th overall pick by the New York Yankees in the 2014 MLB Draft. He opened the 2015 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders of the Triple-A International League with a 1.23 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched. He was promoted by the Yankees to the big-league club on May 24, 2015.

On December 4, 2016, Lindgren signed with the Atlanta Braves and missed the next two seasons due to Tommy John surgery. In 2019, he signed with the Chicago White Sox. He opened the 2021 season with the Triple-A White Sox club but later signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. 

Lindgren announced his retirement from professional baseball in February 2023. He is currently living in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, Alyssa, and works as the Director of Baseball for Varsity Hype, a sports technology company that focuses on live streaming, and The Global Sports Alliance, a baseball tournament organization.