Coaching changes for 2023 Arkansas high school football season

There were 49 coaching changes following the 2022 season

The 2023 football season has officially started, and there will be quite a few familiar faces walking a new sideline. 

Buck James leaving five-time defending 7A champion Bryant for Conway was the most shocking move of any coaching carousel in almost two decades, and Rison has a new leader for the first time in 25 years with Clay Totty's move to Wynne. Totty, the state's all-time winningest active head coach with 242 victories, took over for the second all-time winningest active coach, Van Paschal (241 wins), who just began his tenure at Heber Springs. 

Photo of Bryant head coach Quad Sanders by Jimmy Jones 

Here is the full list of all 49 coaching changes, confirmed by the Arkansas Activities Association: 

BAPTIST PREP 

Current Coach: Riley Perkins

Former Coach: Zach Welchman

BARTON 

Current Coach: Steve Sexton

Former Coach: Spencer Adams 

BERRYVILLE

Current Coach: Mack Chermak

Former Coach: Bryan Hutson 

BLYTHEVILLE 

Current Coach: Jett Howard

Former Coach: Ben Fisher

BRINKLEY 

Current Coach: Kevin Mosley

Former Coach: Richard Havner 

BRYANT 

Current Coach: Quad Sanders 

Former Coach: Buck James

CARLISLE 

Current Coach: Gary Wilson

Former Coach: Caleb Shock

CEDARVILLE 

Current Coach: Spencer Adams 

Former Coach: Max Washausen

CEDAR RIDGE 

Current Coach: Scott Morgan 

Former Coach: Maison Hudgeons

CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN 

Current Coach: Ryan Howard

Former Coach: Tommy Shoemaker

CONWAY

Current Coach: Buck James

Former Coach: Keith Fimple

DE QUEEN 

Current Coach: Richard Bell 

Former Coach: Jarrod Fannin

EL DORADO 

Current Coach: Chris Hill

Former Coach: Steven Jones

EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE 

Current Coach: Tyrell Johnson

Former Coach: Michael Carter

FOREMAN 

Current Coach: Nate Lynch

Former Coach: Jarrod Jackson

GLEN ROSE 

Current Coach: Steven Kehner 

Former Coach: Mark Kehner

GREENLAND 

Current Coach: Cody Napier

Former Coach: Lee Larkan

GUY-PERKINS

Current Coach: Bobby Eubanks

Former Coach: N/A

HACKETT 

Current Coach: Mason Wann

Former Coach: Michael Meador

HAR-BER

Current Coach: Brent Eckley

Former Coach: Chris Wood

HARRISBURG 

Current Coach: Austin Jarrett 

Former Coach: Darrick Ware 

HEBER SPRINGS 

Current Coach: Van Paschal

Former Coach: Todd Wood 

HERMITAGE 

Current Coach: Larry Mitchell

Former Coach: Chase Ellis 

HIGHLAND

Current Coach: Sterling Showers 

Former Coach: Clay Wiggins 

HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE 

Current Coach: Garren Rockwell

Former Coach: Jared McBride 

HUNTSVILLE

Current Coach: Eric Henderson

Former Coach: Matt Williams  

JONESBORO

Current Coach: Tyler George

Former Coach: Randy Coleman/Quad Sanders

JUNCTION CITY 

Current Coach: Devin Ball

Former Coach: David Carpenter

LAKE VILLAGE 

Current Coach: Sirl Wright

Former Coach: Darrius Green

LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL

Current Coach: Anthony Robinson 

Former Coach: George Shelton

MAGNET COVE 

Current Coach: Dean Adams 

Former Coach: Caleb Carmikle 

MANILA 

Current Coach: Ben Fisher 

Former Coach: Cain White 

MANSFIELD 

Current Coach: Whit Overton

Former Coach: Tim Cothran

MARSHALL 

Current Coach: Darin Dunnagan

Former Coach: Anthony Elliot

MCCRORY

Current Coach: Cade Campbell

Former Coach: Brandon Godfrey

MELBOURNE

Current Coach: Clayton McWilliams

Former Coach: Stu Smith

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 

Current Coach: Clint Reed

Former Coach: Randy Sandefur 

PARAGOULD 

Current Coach: Randy Phillips 

Former Coach: David Gunn

PARKERS CHAPEL

Current Coach: Josh Willeford

Former Coach: Elliot Jacobs 

POCAHONTAS 

Current Coach: Casey Chester

Former Coach: Charles Baty

RISON

Current Coach: Caleb Carmikle 

Former Coach: Clay Totty

ROSE BUD 

Current Coach: Garrett Haag

Former Coach: Derek Wofford 

SHERIDAN 

Current Coach: Tyler Turner 

Former Coach: Larry McBroom

SHILOH CHRISTIAN 

Current Coach: Tucker Barnard 

Former Coach: Jeff Conaway

SYLVAN HILLS 

Current Coach: Jason Houle 

Former Coach: Chris Hill

TRUMANN

Current Coach: Gunner Cook 

Former Coach: Randy Phillips

WALDRON

Current Coach: Cain White 

Former Coach: Doug Powell 

WHITE HALL

Current Coach: Jason Mitchell (interim)

Former Coach: Ryan Mallett 

WYNNE 

Current Coach: Clay Totty

Former Coach: Van Paschal