PREP BASKETBALL Van Buren tabs Autry as new boys coach

Van Buren selected veteran college assistant Brad Autry to be its new boys basketball coach during Thursday's school board meeting.

The 50-year-old Autry replaces Austin Trembley, who resigned after two years to enter private business.

"I spoke to a couple of guys I knew about the job," said Autry, who was hired after his interview earlier this week. "There were some other opportunities, and in the process I prayed for God to make things simple because I'm not good at this kind of choices.

"I couldn't be happier. I'm ready to settle down, and I wanted to be a head coach again. This is a great fit for me and my family, and it's a perfect opportunity for me. I know the area well, and Van Buren is a wonderful community."

Autry has spent the last four years as an assistant under Barry Hinson at Southern Illinois and was at Hawaii for a year before that. He also served as an assistant at Marquette under Buzz Williams (2008-14), at Arkansas-Little Rock under Steve Shields (2003-07) and at Tulsa under Bill Self (1999-2000).

He has been a high school head coach on two occasions: at Houston Dekaney in 2007-08 and at Keller (Texas) Fossil Ridge in 2002-03.

"A good friend of mine recommended him, and we're excited to have him," Van Buren athletic director Randy Loyd said. "He's been at a quite a number of places, but he's ready to settle down. We're lucky that we got a good one."

-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry

Sports on 06/07/2019

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