Monday, December 9, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE — A search committee has been formed to find the next athletic director for the Fayetteville School District.
Fayetteville received 36 applications for the position prior to the Nov. 26 deadline, with 13 applicants currently employed within the district. Of those who applied within the school system, seven are current coaches.
They are boys basketball coach Kyle Adams, girls soccer coach Joe Thoma, head football coach Daryl Patton, golf coach Scott Williams, assistant football coach Tim Miller, assistant football coach and head track coach Drew Yoakum and Ramay Junior High football coach Craig Foringer.
Six more district applicants include high school assistant principals Byron Zeagler and Bobby Smith, Fayetteville AP math teacher Andrew Glad, Owl Creek Elementary teacher David McClure, Holt Middle School and Owl Creek physical education teacher Brandon Craft and Fayetteville High fine arts and creative expression program lead teacher Mark White. Former athletic director Barry Gebhart resigned on Oct. 25 following his arrest in connection with Internet stalking of a minor. Fayetteville Superintendent Vicki Thomas immediately accepted Gebhart’s resigation and the district posted the job opening with a Nov. 26 deadline to submit applications.
The Fayetteville school board approved Gebhart’s resignation at its Nov. 21 meeting. Steve Jacoby, Fayetteville High School principal, was named interim athletic director by Thomas during the search. Jacoby is part of an 11-person search committee that includes Fayetteville School District Human Resource officer Greg Mones, Woodland Junior High Principal Anita Lawson, Ramay Junior High Principal Matt Saferite, as well as various coaches in several boys and girls sports in the district.
Mones said all candidates are still under evaluation before the committee determines who to move along in the final interview stage of the search.
“We’re still kind of working through the process,” Mones said.
The committee hopes to have a recommendation to Thomas at the next scheduled school board meeting on Dec. 19.
Fayetteville Athletic Director Applicants
Name, Current Position
Kyle Adams, Head Boys Basketball Coach, Fayetteville
Kevin Billings, Student, University of Arkansas Recreation and Sport Management Masters of Education Program
Ron Bradley, Head Baseball Coach, Rogers State University, Claremore, Okla.
Louis Campbell, Head Football Coach-Athletic Director, Sheridan
Blake Cook, Head Football Coach, Springdale George Junior High
Brandon Craft, Physical Education Teacher, Fayetteville Public Schools
Kerwin Dees, Former Athletic Director, Lexington Christian Academy, Lexington, Ky.
Theodore S. Farah, Head Track/Cross Country Coach, Wilton (Conn.) High School
Craig Foringer, Head Football Coach/Health Teacher, Fayetteville Ramay Junior High
Daniel Gill, Associate Athletic Director, University School at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Andrew Glade, AP Math Teacher, Fayetteville High School
James Griffin, Vice Principal/Athletic Administor, Bolton (Tenn.) High
John Hayden, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal, Watson Chapel High School
Brian Huens, Athletic Director, Bakersfield (Cal.) North High School
Chris Jackson, Athletic Director, Rialto (Cal.) Carter High School
Jody Jenkins, Principal, Ozark High School
Dale Harpenau, Head Baseball Coach/Athletic Director, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Steve Janski, Head Football Coach/Athletic Director, Heber Springs
Julie Long, Head Girls Soccer Coach, Bryant
David McClure, Assistant Principal, Owl Creek Elementary, Fayetteville
Doug Mosley, Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Communications, University of Cincinnati
Tim Miller, Assistant Football Coach, Fayetteville High School
Gary Neal Jr., History Teacher, Branson (Mo.) Public Schools
Daryl Patton, Head Football Coach/Assistant Athletic Director, Fayetteville High School
Corey Roy, Athletic Director, Neosho, Mo.
Jeff Shaw, Head Cross Country/Girls Track Coach, Rogers Heritage High School
Bobby G. Smith, Assistant Principal, Fayetteville High School
Joe Thoma, Head Girls Soccer Coach/ Assistant Football Coach, Fayetteville
Tony Travis, Head Football Coach/Athletic Director, Pea Ridge High School
Terry Gene Vansandt, ALE Teacher, Mountainburg Public Schools
Ed Viera, Head Wrestling Coach/Assistant Football Coach, Maumelle High School
Mark White, Leader Teacher for Fine Arts and Creative Expression Program, Fayetteville High School
Scott Williams, Head Golf Coach/Science teacher, Fayetteville High School
Stephen Wood, Athletic Director, Greenbrier Public Schools
Drew Yoakum, Head Track Coach/Assistant Football Coach-U.S. History Teacher, Fayetteville High School
Byron Zeagler, Assistant Principal, Fayetteville High School