LITTLE ROCK — After building Class 2A Bearden into a powerhouse, Mike Cox said he’s stepping down after five seasons as football coach.
“I think I’ve done all I can do here,” Cox said.
Cox, 48, was 61-8 at Bearden and his teams were state runners-up in 2007 and 2009.
Cox said the demands of coaching multiple sports, at the high school and junior high level, became overwhelming.
“I don’t see it getting any better,” he said. “I would like to find a job where I can coach high school football and offseason.”
Cox said his health is fine and he expects to be coaching next fall.
“I’m not retiring,” Cox said. “I’m not that old.”
Led by standout quarterback/safety Defonta Lowe, Bearden should have one of the top teams in Class 2A again next season.
Sorrels retires
Atkins Coach Charlie Sorrels, the winningest coach in Red Devils’ history, is retiring, but said he will remain at the school as athletic director.
Sorrels, 176-95-1 in 24 years at his alma mater, said recent health problems factored heavily into his decision.
He underwent knee replacement surgery last summer.
“You always hear that you’ll know when it’s time,” Sorrels said. “It’s time. I just couldn’t do things like I’ve done before.”
Sorrels, 56, surpassed his father as the school’s all-time winningest coach in 2004 with his 145th victory and wanted to reach 200 before retiring.
“That had been one of my goals,” Sorrels said. “I just fell a little short.”
As a senior at Atkins in 1971, Sorrels threw for almost 2,000 yards to lead the Red Devils to the Class A state championship. The team was coached by his father.
Sorrels said Atkins hopes to have a new coach in place for spring practice.
AFCA update
Approximately 200 coaches attended the second annual Ronnie Roach Football Clinic on Feb. 11-13 in Hot Springs.
The event was sponsored by the Arkansas Football Coaches Association and Kesslers Team Sports.
Icy road conditions forced officials to delay the clinic one day, which held down attendance by about 50, said Springdale Coach Shane Patrick, president of the AFCA.
Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy was the featured speaker.
The AFCA elected Buzz Bolding as its first executive director. Bolding, who retired last summer as Conway’s athletic director, will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the AFCA.
Inaugural winners of “Staff of the Year” in each class were: Conway (7A), El Dorado (6A), Camden Fairview (5A), Pulaski Robinson (4A), Rivercrest (3A) and Magazine (2A).
Those schools will receive a plaque at the AFCA’s summer meeting in Fayetteville.
For more information on the AFCA, go to arfca.org or e-mail [email protected].
Knighten honored
Pulaski Academy quarterback Fredi Knighten has been named a first-team junior All-American by ESPN RISE magazine.
Knighten, 5-11, 175 pounds, was named a multi-purpose player on the team selected by recruiting analysts and writers.
He was the only junior selected to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas team after completing 277 of 439 passes for 4,318 yards and 54 touchdowns, rushing 128 times for 877 yards and 8 touchdowns, catching 3 passes for 36 yards and 1 touchdown, returning 3 kickoffs for 48 yards and 1 punt 65 yards for a touchdown.
Jonesboro running back Zac Brooks and Greenbrier quarterback Neal Burcham were named third-team junior All-Americans by ESPN RISE.
Bentonville running back Tearris Wallace and Fayetteville safety Brooks Ellis were named first-team sophomore All-Americans by the magazine.
Sports, Pages 21 on 02/24/2011