New Springdale High football coach Zak Clark made two big additions to his staff Wednesday.
The Bulldogs hired Fort Smith Southside co-defensive coordinator Leroy Hood as their new defensive coordinator and Fayetteville offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Bryant Davis as their co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
"These are two of the guys that I've had in mind since day one and have talked about, hey, if something happens, I wanted them to be a part of it," Clark said. "We're fortunate to have them. They're both great coaches. I'm excited the first two guys I targeted and went after believe in this program enough to want to jump on board."
Hood spent the last two seasons at Southside, but one of his previous coaching stops was at Springdale. The Rebels ranked No. 1 in the 7A-West in scoring defense, total defense and run defense in 2014, while ranking No. 2 in pass defense.
Hood will coach cornerbacks in addition to calling the defense. He and Clark played with each other at Arkansas, then against each other when Clark was at Central Arkansas and Hood was at Arkansas Tech.
"Some guys just have a way with kids and they just kind of gravitate toward them," Clark said. "And Leroy's that kind of guy. He's a dynamic person and the kids just love him. I think he's exactly what we need."
Davis spent the last two years working with Clark as Fayetteville's line coach. The Bulldogs ranked second in the 7A-West in total offense and scoring offense last season. He also previously coached at Bentonville and at Russellville under Jeff Holt, Clark's offensive coordinator when he played at Fayetteville.
"If there's two schools that philosophically are similar to us, it's those two," Clark said. "So it was a natural fit the last couple years. He's a guy that I trust and respect and can handle a lot of responsibility."
Clark plans to hire one more new assistant to add to the coaching staff and said he has a short list of candidates.
"The next hire will be a co-offensive coordinator," Clark said. "The next guy will probably coach receivers or maybe running backs, but also needs to be able to coach quarterbacks as well during drills or a team session."
There was shuffling on the staff to make room for the new hires.
Defensive line coach Robert Johnson was named the new George Junior High head coach Wednesday. Cornerbacks coach Derek Moore will fill Johnson's spot with the line, coaching a position he played. Eric Middleton relinquished his defensive coordinator duties, but will continue to coach linebackers and has added an associate head coach title.
On offense, line coach Trey LaValle will join Johnson's staff at George, while coordinator Mark Whatley will transition to a role at Lakeside Junior High. Receivers coach Nate Middleton may slide over to coaching running backs, depending on the next hire Clark makes. And tight ends/fullbacks coach Greg Tiner is now also the strength and conditioning coach, a role that fits after spending time early in his career as a strength coach at LSU and Mississippi State.
Sports on 02/13/2015