1. Give us a background of how you got into coaching XC and/or Track & Field. I got into coaching track and field at Beebe when they hired me right out of college to be the 7th grade boys football and track coach. My second year there, the Head XC job came open and they asked me to do that along with coaching 7th grade and Jr.high football. 2. What inspires you to continue coaching the sport? I really enjoy being around the kids and helping them reach their personal and team goals. I also enjoy sharing my love for these sports and passing it on to kids who don't know much about it, then in turn, seeing them become lifelong track and field fans. 3. Give us a memory that has stuck with you through the years. My best memory was back in 2017 when my boys track team went from being in control of the 5A state track meet and on our way to winning it, then one of the best 300 hurdlers in the state on our team fell and did not score. Watching my team and how they fought through that adversity and rallied to win state by 1 point with the kid who fell in the 300H running anchor leg to secure the state title for us. It was a special year for us since the group of seniors that year, I was their head coach in junior high then when they moved up to senior high as sophomores I was able to be their head coach as well. 4. What differences have you seen in the program since you've been HC? I have been blessed at DeQueen to follow coach Joe Baker when he left to return back to Ashdown and was able to build on what he and other coaches at DeQueen have done in the past. De Queen has a rich tradition of track and field and cross country, so just to be able to push a great program forward and to continue to compete for state titles in both sports every year has been great and there really were not a whole lot of things that needed to be changed. 5. What's your take on the direction of High School XC and/or Track & Field in Arkansas? I feel like we have a lot of great track coaches in the state of Arkansas. I am pleased to see the numbers of athletes that continue competing and then onto college track and field and take pride in their accomplishments, even if they did not come from my program. I feel like we need to continue to be open to change if it benefits our student athletes and try to make our sport the best it can possibly be. I would like to see our sports promoted across the board in the state. Championships (State) De Queen Head Coach 2017 5A Boys Track and Field State Champs De Queen Head Coach 2019 4A Boys Indoor Track and Field State Champs Beebe Head Coach 2005 4A Cross Country State Champs Asst. Coach 2009 4A Boys Track and Field State Champs 4 Junior high and 2 senior high conference championships as head coach, never finishing worse than runner-up. Coaching Accomplishments 2005 Arkansas Activities Association Coach of the Year in Boys Cross Country Years Coaching 18 years