Springdale High should have a new football coach in the next week.
The search to replace former Bulldogs coach Shane Patrick has been narrowed to a handful of candidates from a pool of 20 applicants, district athletic director Wayne Stehlik said. Those candidates will interview with district superintendent Dr. Jim Rollins this week, with the hopes of having the new hire in place by the Jan. 13 school board meeting.
"We've got four or five candidates that we really are impressed with," Stehlik said.
Fayetteville offensive coordinator Zak Clark has applied and interviewed for the job. The former Arkansas quarterback is likely one of the frontrunners for the opening at a Springdale program where he spent time as a quarterbacks coach before taking the Fayetteville position.
Paris head coach Bryan Hutson, who previously turned around North Little Rock, is another strong candidate, as is Norman (Okla.) North head coach Wade Standley. Standley is 30-16 at Norman North and led the Timberwolves to the 2012 Oklahoma Class 6A state title game.
Pea Ridge head coach Tony Travis is another notable applicant. Pea Ridge went 11-2 and won the 4A-1 Conference title this year. Eureka (Mo.) head coach Farrell Shelton has had consistent success over a long tenure at the school, while Tulsa (Okla.) Victory Christian head coach Brent Marley is regarded as an up-and-comer.
"It goes back to my DAVE acronym: dynamics, attitude, vision and experiences," Stehlik said. "Those are kind of my measuring stick. We've got four or five that they may not be strong in every category, but their body of work has really impressed us."
The new coach will inherit a new-look Bulldog Stadium that will include new home bleachers and a new press box, much-needed upgrades for the school. The coach will also inherit a program that is coming off an 0-10 season, went 18-33 in Patrick's five years and has not won a playoff game since Springdale Har-Ber opened in 2006.
"These coaches have spent a lot of time researching us. Of course, they know that we were 0-10," Stehlik said. "But they all know Shane Patrick was a man of great character. He built a good foundation. There's things in place. They know the ball just didn't bounce the right way for Shane, but they know there's people there, a feeder system, a youth center program being built and getting better."
Sports on 01/06/2015