Brooks Hollingsworth is coaching high school football after 32 seasons at the college level.
The former Central Arkansas assistant coach is in charge of the offensive line at Conway High School, just a four-minute drive from his alma mater.
The Little Rock native was in his third stint at UCA when Bears Coach Clint Conque left after the 2013 season to take the head coaching position at Stephen F. Austin. Hollingsworth, who had been UCA's offensive coordinator and was with the Bears the last 10 years, didn't follow Conque to east Texas and was eventually not retained by new UCA Coach Steve Campbell.
Going out of state to coach was not an option for Hollingsworth, who received three offers from colleges to remain in the state.
"I'm an Arkansas guy," said Hollingsworth, who was an offensive lineman at UCA in 1977-1980 and is in the school's sports Hall of Fame. "I'm not going to finish my career in a foreign land."
Hollingsworth was an assistant at his alma mater during three time frames (1990-1992; 1997-2002; 2004-2013) and was the head coach at Arkansas Tech in 1993-1996.
Without a college coaching job, Hollingsworth turned to the high school ranks, helping out North Little Rock's staff in spring football. He was not offered a full-time position by the school, leaving him in limbo once again.
In early July, Hollingsworth landed a job at Conway to work on Coach Clint Ashcraft's staff. He'll also teach eighth-grade physical education at Conway Junior High School.
It took him more than six months to get another full-time job, but ending up at a place in his adopted hometown was the best thing, Hollingsworth believes.
"I love it," Hollingsworth said. "You know a lot of people here in town. I've always felt something for Conway [High], even though I didn't go to school here.
"I've been here 20 years. I came out here and watched them practice all the time. It's a good group. I love the coaches and I'm glad to be a part of it."
Ashcraft appreciates Hollingsworth's knowledge and experience.
"He's been around ball for 30-years plus," Ashcraft said. "It's been a great pickup. It's been good for our offensive line. He can take what we have in place and bring in some new twists. You hear something one way and then when you hear this guy come in and he's saying the exact same thing, but he's saying it in a different way. Guys are getting coached differently.
"What people may not have been getting before, he's getting that through to them now."
Hollingsworth admitted that there has been adjustment period from college to high school.
"We're fitting it into what they can do," he said. "I have to use new vocabulary."
Conway hosts Cabot in its season opener Sept. 5 at John McConnell Stadium.
ALMA
Young Airedale
Alma Coach Doug Loughridge is high on sophomore Noah Dotson.
Dotson, 6-0, 197 pounds, is expected to start at outside linebacker for the Airedales. He also will work at quarterback behind senior starter Evan Burris and at fullback.
Dotson was Alma Junior High's starting quarterback last season.
"He doesn't play like a sophomore, he plays like a junior," Loughridge said. "He's a guy we'll be able to package in at quarterback. He's got a strong arm. He can shake and bake. He's got some great moves. He's a strong runner. He's one of our strongest guys in the weight room. He can run over you and run around you.
"He's smart. He knows the game. He's a competitor. He's an athlete. We can plug him in spots and he'll be one of your best guys wherever you plug him into."
Dotson's situation is similar to what Loughridge dealt with at Charleston in 2011. Incumbent starter Dustin Shelby was the Tigers' quarterback while Arkansas commitment Ty Storey, then a ninth-grader, was packaged in at quarterback and also played on defense.
Like Storey, Loughridge is getting Dotson on the field.
"We don't discriminate against what year you're in, whether you're a sophomore, junior or senior," Loughridge said. "If you're a sophomore and you're better than that senior, you'll be out there.
"We're in here to put the best guys out there to give us a chance to win."
PINE BLUFF
Challenge accepted
The Ice Bucket Challenge has spread to high school football teams in Arkansas.
Pine Bluff Coach Bobby Bolding was one of several coaches this week to participate in the challenge, which is meant to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. Participants dump ice water over their heads, post videos on social media, then challenge others to do the same or donate money.
Bolding posted a picture on his Twitter account of him getting dunked with ice water by his players. He was challenged on a Little Rock TV station by his brother, North Little Rock Coach Brad Bolding.
Bobby Bolding was more than willing to participate.
"Any time you can help out in some way, it's something you should do," he said. "You don't have to be a coach. You don't have to be anybody special. You don't have to be on TV or be recognized for it.
"I just think you should help people who need help. People have helped me. It's a way for me to give back."
The Zebras have raised at least $100 for ALS research, Bolding said.
EXTRA POINTS
Alma will play Fort Smith Southside at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville in the first week of the 2015 season, Alma Athletic Director Mike McSpadden said. The Airedales face Poteau, Okla., in their season opener Sept. 4 at Mayo Thompson Stadium in Fort Smith. ... Athlon Sports High School Football preview magazine has Bentonville ranked No. 18 in the nation. The Tigers are the defending Class 7A state champion. ... Several Arkansas high schools will play scrimmage games the week of Aug. 25. Springdale hosts last year's Class 4A champion Booneville (now in Class 3A) and Shiloh Christian on the 25th. Other scrimmage games that evening include Greenwood at Fayetteville, Cabot at Lake Hamilton and Rogers at Little Rock Christian. Conway hosts North Little Rock and Pine Bluff travels to West Memphis on Aug. 26. Admission is $5 for all scrimmages.
Sports on 08/17/2014