BENTONVILLE -- Barry Lunney wanted to ride off into the sunset when it came to his football coaching career and go out on his terms, not somebody else's.
He saw the best time to do that was now. After weeks of prayer and deliberation, Lunney announced his retirement Monday afternoon at the Tiger Athletic Complex, first in a meeting with his coaching staff, followed by a separate meeting with his players.
Arkansas’ All-Time Winningest High School Football Coaches
(Records updated through 2014 season)
Coach^Last Year^W-L-T^Pct.
Frank McClellan^2005^367-77-4^0.824
Tom Tice^ACTIVE^285-154-6^0.647
Mike Malham, Jr.^ACTIVE^275-120-4^0.694
Bernie Cox^2009^271-123-8^0.684
Frank Vines^2006^270-98-4^0.731
Jerry Clay^ACTIVE^265-120-2^0.687
Jarrell Williams^2000^261-131-5^0.664
Don Campbell^2006^256-97 -5^0.722
9. Barry Lunney^2014^248-90-1^0.733
George Burke^2000^242-143-5^0.627
Jon Watson^2009^237-92-1^0.720
David Alpe^2001^233-164-5^0.586
Clinton Gore^2012^229-125-3^0.646
At A Glance
Barry Lunney Year-By-Year Coaching Record
Year^Record
Beebe
1987^8-2
1988^7-3
Total^15-5
Fort Smith Southside
1989^5-5
1990^10-3
1991^13-1
1992^12-2
1993^10-3
1994^8-5
1995^7-4
1996^1-9
1997^12-2
1998^12-1
1999^2-8
2000^12-2
2001^9-4
2002^12-2
2003^8-3
2004^3-6-1
Total: 136-50-1
Bentonville
2005^3-7
2006^7-4
2007^9-3
2008^12-1
2009^9-2
2010^13-0
2011^12-1
2012^12-1
2013^11-2
2014^9-4
Total: 97-25
Combined total: 248-90-1, including eight state championships, 17 outright or shared conference titles
Career playoff mark 46-13 (29-8 at Fort Smith Southside, 17-5 at Bentonville)
The decision came less than two months after Bentonville won its second consecutive Class 7A state championship, and the school's fourth under Lunney, with a 24-21 victory over Fayetteville at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock in December.
"It really began last year, whether it was time or not," Lunney said. "It's been a long process of prayer, like it was before I came here. I began praying about it two years ago, and it's been a process, trying to hear God, talking to the people that I value in my life, like my wife, my children and a couple of close friends and seeking some counsel and wisdom.
"I think the timing was right for me. I'm still healthy. I still have a lot of enthusiasm, and I'm energetic. I love life, and I've got about six months to see if something else might come my way. Right now, I don't know, but I feel like there is."
Lunney closes out his career with a 248-90-1 record -- good for ninth all-time in victories among Arkansas' high school football coaches -- as well as eight state titles and 17 outright or shared conference championships. His .733 winning percentage is second only to former Barton coach Frank McClellan's .824 among the state's winningest coaches, and he is tied with McClellan for the second-most state championships behind Wilson Matthews, who won 10 at Little Rock Central.
He spent the last 10 years at Bentonville, where his Tigers compiled a 97-25 overall record and a 57-11 mark in 7A-West Conference play. That included a 36-game winning streak in regular-season games and a 33-game conference win streak, both of which took place in 2009-13.
"Everybody knows that coach Lunney is respected in the community and the coaching field and among his players," athletic director Scott Passmore said. "We've got some big shoes to fill.
"He's got such great character and high standards. He's compassionate and dedicated, and he has all the characteristics you look for in a leader and a coach. I actually pulled up an article on the 15 top characteristics that you look for in hiring a coach or a leader for your program, and coach Lunney fit all 15 of those."
Lunney's decision made for an emotional day at his home, as well as the Tiger Athletic Complex. He said his wife Becky cried about it during lunch Monday, then the tears continued to flow as Lunney met with his coaching staff, then with his players.
Junior quarterback Kasey Ford said he shed some tears when he and his teammates heard the news from Lunney on Monday afternoon. He described the scene as somber, and many players appeared shell-shocked at the announcement.
"I expected this to happen, but not so soon," Ford said. "It did hit me because I really wanted coach Lunney to be with me and the our whole senior class as we graduated.
"He's part of the reason I stayed in the football program as a sophomore. That guy has been a huge influence on me since the day I've met him. He's been a blessing to me and an influence to me and my family."
Lunney, who also serves as an assistant athletic director, will continue to serve in that capacity through June 30, when his contract with the school expires. He is unsure what lies next for him, although he has been in discussions with some people about it.
Meanwhile, Passmore said he will immediately start the process in search for a replacement. He will begin to form a search committee and find the right people for that committee, but there is no timeline set.
Henry Apple can be reached at happle@nwadg.com or on Twitter at @NWAHenry.
Sports on 01/27/2015