Clinton Public School District

Pearlene Fairley is entering her 7th year as Head Coach for the Clinton High School Girls Basketball Team. In her first year as an Arrow,  she led the team to a 6A District Championship and this team was also 6A State Runner Ups. She has since led her team to another District Championship in 2022 and a semi-final state appearance. The Lady Arrows finished the 2024-25 season with 20 wins and 10 losses and made it to the playoffs. 

She began her career 20 years ago as Head Coach of Martha Gaskins Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama. Fairley only spent 1 year there and decided to relocate back to MS, where she was an Assistant Coach at Northwest Rankin Middle School from 2006-2011. In 2011, she became the Head Coach for Pelahatchie High School and Junior High teams. In her 4th year (2015), she coached them to a 1A District Championship and a 1A State Championship. Fairley spent 8 years at Pelahatchie High School where she also guided the Lady Chiefs to two more District Championships and three more State Appearances in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Fairley was named Coach of the Year three times and was selected to coach in the 2019 North/South All-Star basketball game. Fairley came to Clinton with a 155-85 record. 

She is a graduate of Pelahatchie High School. She attended Hinds Community College and Alabama A&M University on an athletic scholarship for basketball. Pearlene received her Bachelors’ Degree in Education in 2003. In 2010, she received her Masters’ Degree in Education from Jackson State University.  

Fairley’s motivation for coaching comes from her passion and love for the game.  She enjoys developing players and watching their game come to life. Fairley’s favorite quote is “A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with One Step.”