Gebhart Resigns To Focus On A.D. Job

By Alex Abrams

Posted: March 19, 2010 at 6:34 a.m.

Andy Shupe
WINNING COMBINATION - Longtime Fayetteville coach Barry Gebhart, center, and assistant coach Kyle Adams, right, speak to their players during a timeout in the Purple Bulldogs’ 54-40 win against Little Rock Central on Nov. 29, 2008, at Fayetteville High.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Instead of returning home last week after Fayetteville lost in the Class 7A State Championship Game, Barry Gebhart remained in Hot Springs to attend an athletic directors’ meeting.

Gebhart said it became apparent then that he’d have a difficult time continuing to juggle both his duties as Fayetteville’s boys basketball coach and athletic director.

In a decision that came as no surprise, Gebhart stepped down Thursday as the Bulldogs’ coach, freeing him up to devote more time to his family and newly appointed athletic director position.

“I know the amount of time and energy involved in being the head basketball coach at Fayetteville High School, and I just didn’t see that there would be enough time in the day just to do both,” said Gebhart, who also has a 4-year-old daughter.

Gebhart informed his players of his decision during a team meeting Thursday afternoon. The meeting came only six days after Fayetteville fell short in its bid for a second-consecutive state championship, losing 66-56 to Conway on March 12.

“We kind of figured he wouldn’t (step down), but it was sad for us,” said Fayetteville point guard Kikko Haydar, who’s among eight senior players who’ll soon graduate. “I mean, it’s going to be weird not seeing him coaching next year, but I’m sure the program will be fine and (him) doing both jobs is hectic.”

Since being named Fayetteville’s athletic director on Dec. 17, Gebhart has juggled a hectic schedule that’s included his administrative duties during the day and coaching responsibilities in the afternoon and night.

And while Gebhart wanted to wait until after the season to make a decision about his future — the Bulldogs finished 25-6 — he has talked about the challenge of doing both jobs.

“I know he’s been stressed about making that decision (to resign). That had to be a difficult decision for him,” said Kyle Adams, Gebhart’s assistant coach for the past 7 years. “He’s been coaching a long time, he means a lot to this program and I hate to see him go. We’ve had a great time together.”

Gebhart has served as Fayetteville’s coach since the 1992-93 season, and in 2009 he led the Bulldogs to a 30-0 record and their first state championship since 1987.

Gebhart is among two 7A-West Conference basketball coaches who resigned Thursday, joining Fort Smith Northside’s Johnny Mason.

As athletic director, Gebhart will play a role in hiring his replacement. He said a search committee will soon be formed to find a new coach, though Adams appears to be the early favorite to take over the Bulldogs.

Adams was the starting point guard on Fayetteville’s 1987 state title team, and he finally agreed after 19 years as Fayetteville Woodland’s coach to join Gebhart’s staff. Adams is also Fayetteville’s golf coach.

Adams said he intends to apply for the Bulldogs’ coaching vacancy and go through the hiring process like any other candidate.

“He’s obviously going to be a strong candidate. I wouldn’t have tried to hire him three to four times (from Woodland) if I did not feel that way,” Gebhart said of Adams. “But in my mind, this is the best basketball job in the state and whoever the next coach is going to be highly skilled and qualified.”

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