NLR to interview 10 coach finalists

North Little Rock is one step closer to filling its football coaching vacancy.

Wynne Coach Chris Hill, Dumas Coach Mark Courtney, Mena Coach Tim Harper, Pine Bluff Dollarway Coach Cortez Lee and Barton Coach Van Paschal are among the 10 candidates who will interview for the North Little Rock High School football position this week, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette learned Monday.

Former Arkansas Razorbacks football player Jeromy Flowers, who is currently the defensive coordinator at Homewood (Ill.) Flossmore High School, will also be interviewed along with North Little Rock assistant coaches Jason Houle and Blake Pizan and one-time football assistant Anthony Cantrell and Starkville (Miss.) Coach Jamie Mitchell.

North Little Rock received 35 applications for its coaching vacancy. The Democrat-Gazette received the list of applicants under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

North Little Rock Superintendent Kelly Rodgers said Monday candidates will be interviewed today and Thursday by a seven-man committee made up of school employees and community members.

"It's a good group of candidates who have strong resumes and a good background," Rodgers told the Democrat-Gazette. "We're all pleased with the pool of candidates."

Rodgers said that he hopes to have a coach named next week.

The North Little Rock position opened April 10 after the district's school board upheld the termination of former coach Brad Bolding. Bolding was fired after being accused of violating inventory and purchasing procedures in two termination notices earlier this year as well as being accused of recruiting violations. Bolding has sued the North Little Rock School District for reinstatement and monetary damages. No court date has been set.

Hill has coached at Class 5A Wynne since 2011. He led the Yellowjackets to the Class 5A state championship game last season. Hill has also coached at Morrilton, Van Buren, Ashdown and Bossier City Parkway (La.).

Courtney has been at Class 4A Dumas since 2006 and also coached at East Poinsett County. He coached former Arkansas State tight end Darion Griswold, who played quarterback at Dumas.

Harper completed his second season at Class 4A Mena last fall, leading the Bearcats to their first state championship game since 1976. He's also coached at Des Arc and Searcy.

Lee succeeded George Shelton at Class 4A Dollarway in 2008. He was the starting quarterback for Dollarway's 1990 state championship team.

Paschal, who has been at Class 3A Barton since 2010, is the most experienced candidate that will be interviewed by North Little Rock. He has also led programs at Monticello, DeQueen, Sheridan and Brinkley.

Pizan and Houle are currently assistants at North Little Rock while Cantrell was a former assistant under Bolding. Cantrell is the school's softball coach.

Flowers played safety at Arkansas in 1996-1999. He is the defensive coordinator at Homewood Flossmore High School in Illinois.

Mitchell has coached at Starkville for five seasons.

Two of the state's top high school football positions have been open this offseason. Bentonville, the largest school in the state with an enrollment of 2,877 according to the 2014-2016 reclassification cycle, promoted assistant Jody Grant earlier this year to take over for the retired Barry Lunney.

North Little Rock, the state's fifth-largest high school with an enrollment of 2,092, will be playing in a new on-campus stadium this fall. The Charging Wildcats played at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium in 2014 while the new stadium was under construction.

Last season, North Little Rock finished 10-2 and won the 7A/6A-East Conference title, but lost to Bentonville in the Class 7A state semifinals.

Sports on 04/28/2015