The Little Rock School District placed Little Rock Parkview football Coach William Hardiman on administrative leave Wednesday, pending the investigation of a personnel matter.
The district announced in a release that Kenny Stephens will serve as Parkview's interim coach.
Superintendent Michael Poore on Wednesday would say only that the employee at Parkview -- Hardiman -- is on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. That leave is with pay.
"That is as far as I can go," Poore said, but he did acknowledge an interim head football coach had been named for the school and that a news release would be forthcoming later Wednesday afternoon. That release in naming the interim coach also said Hardiman was on administrative leave pending a personnel matter.
Attempts to reach Hardiman by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette were unsuccessful.
Stephens will be the fifth head coach at Parkview since 1979. John Kelley (1979-1998), Earnest McGee (1999-2005), Danny Black (2006) and Hardiman are the others.
"Obviously, this isn't the way you want your dream job to be given to you," said Stephens, who confirmed to the Democrat-Gazette he'll be the interim coach for the entire 2016 season. "If it's a year or 10 years, I'm ready for it."
Hardiman, 45, who has been Parkview's coach since 2007, is 43-59 in nine seasons at the school. The Patriots went 5-5 last season and missed the Class 6A playoffs. They did not record a victory against a winning team in 2015.
Hardiman also is Parkview's track and field coach. He coached last season's Arkansas high school heptathlon champion Jada Baylark, who is now at Arkansas.
According to the district, Kelley -- Parkview's athletic director and assistant principal -- met with football players and coaching staff Wednesday to inform them of the news. A parent meeting is being planned to provide details about the coaching transition.
Stephens is a familiar face in the school district.
The Little Rock native is a 1994 graduate of Little Rock Fair. After serving as a police officer in North Little Rock and at the University of Arkansas, Stephens was hired by the Little Rock School District in 2007. He was an assistant coach under Hardiman at Parkview in 2008-2009 before being hired as an assistant coach by Ellis "Scooter" Register at Little Rock Central in 2010.
Stephens, who has taught social studies at Parkview for seven years, was entering his seventh season as an assistant coach at Central before receiving a phone call Wednesday with the news he was going to be the interim coach at Parkview.
"Personally, I was excited," said Stephens, 40. "The main thing is to do right by the kids and see that they're taken care of.
"This is about them, it's not about me."
Stephens spoke with the team Wednesday afternoon.
"We're going to make a go at it this season," Stephens said. "We'll make the best of the situation."
Hardiman has been embroiled in turmoil before as Parkview's coach. He was suspended for a game in 2013 by the Arkansas Activities Association after being ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Also, Hardiman and the Little Rock School District were sued by the parents of a then-16-year old boy identified as JH in January 2015. The coach was accused of kicking the 10th-grader in the chest during an August 2013 practice.
A trial was scheduled for July, but the suit was dismissed in June.
While Little Rock McClellan reached the Class 5A state championship game last season, the other four schools in the Little Rock School District -- Parkview, Central, Fair and Hall -- have struggled. Parkview has not won a state championship since 1978, and its last outright conference title was 1984.
Parkview is moving down from Class 6A to Class 5A for the next two seasons. The Patriots will play in the 5A-Central Conference with two-time defending state champion Pulaski Academy and last year's runner-up McClellan, along with Little Rock Christian and Sylvan Hills.
Stephens understands the challenge that is ahead for Parkview, which has an open week in Week 1 and doesn't play its first game until Sept. 9 at Benton.
"It takes a strong leader," Stephens said. "But we have to do a better job. We have to get the kids in the hallway and come out and play. We have to get support also from those in the community."
When asked what his goals are for Parkview this season, Stephens said he didn't want to make too many changes with the program. He credits Register for molding him into a better coach, he said.
"A lot of people are pulling for me right now," Stephens said.
Information for this article was contributed by Cynthia Howell of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Sports on 08/18/2016