The Searcy School District Board of Education met tonight in a special called board meeting. At the recommendation of Superintendent Diane Barrett, the board hired coaches for four open athletic positions. The following positions were filled: Searcy High School head football coach; Searcy High School head volleyball coach; Searcy Junior High head boys basketball coach; and Searcy Junior High head girls basketball coach. We welcome the following coaches to the Searcy Public Schools family!
Kenny Simpson- Searcy High School head football coach
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Coach Kenny Simpson has led the Southside, Batesville football team since 2011 where his teams made appearances in the state playoffs four consecutive years. During his time at Southside, he was named Conference “Coach of the Year'' in 2017 and was recognized by Hooten’s as a finalist for the 4A 2017 “Coach of the Year''. Simpson has been featured in multiple nation-wide coaching podcasts during his career. He previously coached at Alabama Christian and Madison Academy. Simpson is a Cum Laude graduate of Harding University and is licensed to teach 7th-12th grade social studies.
Manuela Harris-Searcy High School head volleyball coach
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Coach Manuela Harris acted as the head coach for the Riverview Raider’s volleyball team for the 2019-2020 season. Harris is a Harding University graduate where she earned a full athletic scholarship as a Lady Bison volleyball player and received numerous accolades during her athletic tenure at Harding University. She is active in multiple volunteer organizations and is licensed as a business education and physical education teacher.
Clark Brewington-Searcy Junior High head boys basketball coach
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Coach Clark Brewington is an all-around athlete who worked in various athletic operations during his time at Evangel University. A 2020 graduate, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management. Brewington is the recipient of a number of athletic recognition awards in both his college and high school athletic careers.
Katie Cooper- Searcy Junior High head girls basketball coach
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Coach Katie Cooper is returning to the Searcy School District after spending the last eight years as the Bald Knob Lady Bulldog’s head basketball coach where she led the Lady Bulldogs to three straight state tournaments and six straight regional tournaments. She was recognized as an All-Star Coach finalist in 2017, and she served on the Arkansas High School Basketball Coaches Association as a board member from 2016-2018. Cooper played college basketball on a full athletic scholarship at the University of Central Arkansas and graduated in 2001.