There will soon be a new head coach for the Conway High football team. After 18 years of service, Kenny Smith will step aside to accept other responsibilities in the Conway Public School District, according to school officials.
Smith finished his tenure with a 129-75 (63.2 percent) record with the Wampus Cats. He had coached in Conway for 25 years in all and won six conference championships, as well as played in the 1993 Class AAAAA state title game.
"No one bleeds Wampus Cat Blue any more than Coach Smith," Conway superintendent Greg Murry Said. "Our district and our community appreciate all that he has done to bring pride to our football program. We wish him the very best as he begins a new chapter in his professional career."
The Cats have had their rough times in recent seasons, including a 2-8 record this past season. Conway, which has not made the state playoffs since 2006, also went 3-7 in 2007.
Murry said the district will immediately begin the process of finding a replacement for Smith.
2 comments for this post
Hmmm. Seems like that's been coming for some time, huh?
Here's hoping Conway improves!
The Natural State Hawg
Our son, Dylan, plays on the varsity. But because he is a sophomore, he goes to class on the East Campus. The high school in Conway is on the West Campus.
He said Monday morning, while going to his first period class, he was asked if he had heard the news. He said he had not.
Dylan then told me the news swirled throughout the East Campus all day.
At the end of the day, he caught the bus shuttle to the West Campus. This is his usual routine to go to football practice. Since the season is now over, the players have instead been handing in their equipment, jerseys, etc.
All the players met in the field house. Coach Smith came out and told them the news. He was asked last Tuesday to resign. He waited until Friday to turn in his resignation. He did not want to quit, but was essentially forced to do so.
His voice began to crack, so he turned around and left and headed back to his office. His former players then filed out, one by one.
So now the rumors are the new head football coach for the Wampus Cats will be William Hardiman from Little Rock Parkview, or Scott Schwartz, who is currently on the Conway high school coaching staff.