Conway has actually been near the top of Class 7A’s high school football over recent years, amongst the very best of the rest behind five-time state champ Bryant.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Wampus Cats employed Buck James, the man who has had a company grip on Arkansas’ biggest category given that taking control of at Bryant in 2016.
James alerted Bryant Superintendent Dr. Karen Walters of his objective to leave for Conway on Tuesday early morning and met his brand-new group later on that afternoon.
“It certainly brings a sense of enjoyment,” Conway Athletic Director Clint Ashcraft said. “You understand, he recognizes with us. He’s acquainted with our kids. He’s acquainted with our coaches. He’s going to bring his concepts and his subtleties in to our kids and the staff that he assembles, and we’re simply hoping that results in terrific things for our football program.”
James did not react to speak with demands by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Tuesday.
In 7 seasons at Bryant, James assembled an 80-9 record, winning state champions each of the previous 5 seasons, a streak that is a record in the state’s biggest category. He leaves the Hornets in the middle of a 53-game winning streak versus in-state challengers, going back to a loss to North Little Rock on Oct. 25, 2018.
Bryant went 12-0 last season and beat Conway two times on its method to another state champion.
James has a 210-52 record in 21 seasons as a head coach in the state. He won a state champion as a gamer with Jefferson Prep in 1981, as an assistant at Monticello in 1994 and as a head coach at Camden Fairview in 2012 prior to relocating to Bryant.
James is being successful previous Conway coach Keith Fimple, who ended up being Springdale’s athletic director in early May.
He is the 3rd departure from Bryant’s football training staff this offseason. Offensive organizer Kirk Bock is set to end up being Bryant’s brand-new athletic director, and protective organizer Quad Sanders ended up being Jonesboro’s head football coach March 14.
Ashcraft said that when Fimple resigned, Conway created a list of coaches in and out of Arkansas to assess interest. He said when James indicated there was shared interest, it wasn’t difficult to see who the very best prospect was.
“When you put his resume on the table, you understand, attempt to top it,” Ashcraft said. “Once there was some interest there, and it was both methods, it sort of took [on] a life of its own.
“We kept speaking to other individuals since you never ever understand how things are going to play out. [But] once it got to where we understood this was major for both celebrations, we sort of closed down all the other talks and wished to complete this line all the method out.”
James met Conway brass numerous times in the weeks following Fimple’s resignation. The 2 sides satisfied in person two times prior to James notified Ashcraft that he had actually accepted the position on May 26.
James and Ashcraft’s relationship returns to 1998 when the previous was training at Monticello and the latter at Watson Chapel. Between training centers, group camps and going head-to-head on Friday nights, the 2 have actually remained in touch for almost 25 years.
“Mine and his discussions are constantly truly good,” Ashcraft said. “We’ve coached versus each other at numerous locations, in the playoffs and things, so I understand what sort of man he is. And I understand what he gives programs.”
James signs up with a Conway program that has actually won 8 video games or more in each of the previous 6 seasons with 10 success in 2022. But in spite of all that success, the Wampus Cats have actually not won a straight-out conference title given that 2014 and remain in search of their very first state champion given that 1967.
“I believe all your terrific coaches are sustained by difficulties,” Ashcraft said. “The reality that we’re right there, and the chance exists to come in here and take it one action even more, I believe that’s something that sort of drives Coach James.”