SPRINGDALE -- Jaime Green will replace the only girls varsity basketball coach Springdale Har-Ber has had.
Green was promoted Tuesday to head coach after spending one year as an assistant at Har-Ber under Sandy Wright, who was Green's coach at Springdale High. Wright retired after 35 years as a coach, including the last 10 at Har-Ber.
"It's truly an honor and a blessing to receive this opportunity to continue the firm foundation Sandy has established in the community," said Green, who graduated from Springdale High in 1998. "Sandy was my first mentor, and we stayed in touch over the years. She helped teach me the blue-collar work ethic Springdale is known for."
Springdale Athletic Director Wayne Stehlik said last week between 15-20 people filled out online applications for the job and a dozen more called or made inquiries about the position. Har-Ber expects an easy transition from Wright to Green, who has college head coaching experience at Labette (Kan.) Community College and Newman University in Wichita, Kan. She was 79-20 in three years at Labette and led a team to a third-place finish in the national tournament.
Green, 35, played two years at Missouri Southern and was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator there after graduating in 2004.
She was head coach for one year at Eureka Springs and also coached at Monett, Mo., and Miller, Mo., before returning home to Springdale as girls' coach at Southwest Junior High. Green spent one year at Southwest before joining Wright's staff last year as an assistant.
Wright surpassed 500 career victories last season when Har-Ber finished 20-13 overall, including 8-8 in the 7A-West Conference. The Lady Wildcats return some good, young players, but top scorer Jacie Higgins will not return after she transferred to Conway following her junior year.
"I have my own coaching philosophy, as all coaches do, but it should be an easy transition this year," Green said. "Extra smooth."
Sports on 06/01/2016