SPRINGDALE — Springdale Har-Ber’s football program will have two new coordinators following last year’s 8-4 finish.
Keith Fimple will take over as offensive coordinator and receivers coach, while Michael Johnson will head the defense as its coordinator. Fimple replaces Don Struebing, who will go into private business after serving as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Wildcats.
Former defensive coordinator Gary Wear will move to offense where he’ll coach running backs. Former running backs coach Ric Davies has retired after coaching for 25 years, including the past six at Har-Ber.
Fimple spent one year as a Fayetteville assistant after coaching for eight years at Fort Smith Southside. Johnson arrives from Booneville, where he was the high school principal, but Johnson has an extensive coaching background, including a stint at Ouachita Baptist.
“Keith is someone I’ve know and coached against since 2006 when I came here,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “Keith is detailed-driven, and both he and Michael are great additions to the staff who will allow me to grow as a head football coach. We’re happy to add them to the mix.”
Wood and Struebing are former Springdale High coaches who moved across town when Har-Ber opened. Struebing, a former high school All-American at center, leaves after coaching his son, Sam, who was a starting center as a senior for the Wildcats.
Har-Ber went 8-4 while being eliminated in the quarterfinals for the second straight year by Conway. The Wildcats must replace 46 seniors, including Kyle Pianalto, a two-year starter at quarterback, and running back Sain Mathew, who set a school single-season rushing record with 1,926 yards.
Har-Ber will return five starters on defense, including cornerback Justin Setser and tackle Rickey Dobbins, who had a solid junior season after he transferred from Maumelle.
Har-Ber will begin play this fall in a new stadium. The Wildcats open with road games at Webb City, Mo., and Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst before hosting Conway in its new home in Week 3.
The game is a rematch from the state quarterfinals, which the Wampus Cats won 52-42.