SPRINGDALE -- When it came time to choose Springdale High's new boys basketball coach, it turned to the first family of hoops in the city.
Jeremy Price, a former standout player for the Red'Dogs and an assistant coach under the previous coach, Brad Stamps, was named Friday to lead the Springdale boys basketball program.
Price, whose father Steve is the longtime boys basketball coach at Springdale Southwest Junior High, was a member of the Bulldogs' 1998 state runner-up team and a 1999 Springdale graduate. He was previously the head coach at George Junior High before taking an assistant coaching position under Stamps last season.
"Jeremy Price is a great fit for Springdale High," said Wayne Stehlik, Springdale Public Schools Athletic Director in a news release. "He is a former Bulldog. He understands what it means to wear the SHS uniform. He's been a valuable member of the SHS staff the past six years and has a great rapport with our Bulldog student-athletes."
The job came open when Stamps accepted an assistant coaching position recently at his alma matter Fayetteville.
Price comes from a long line of coaches in his family. In addition to his father, his brother Sean is the head coach at Class 4A Gentry.
After graduating from Springdale, Price played at Arkansas-Fort Smith and Lubbock Christian, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He began his coaching career at Cabot, then returned to Springdale as assistant coach at George in 2009.
In 2011 Price was promoted to head coach at George and guided the Wranglers to the regional championship game.
Stehlik said the Springdale opening drew a number of candidates from around the region.
"We listened intently but kept coming back to our own backyard and what we have in Jeremy Price," Stehlik said in the news release. "We are extremely excited and proud to have coach Price leading the SHS Bulldog basketball program."
Sports on 07/04/2015