HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Mining for happiness

Patton picks Bauxite after Fayetteville split

After winning 116 games and four state titles during his 13-year tenure at Fayetteville, Bauxite Coach Daryl Patton (above) will try to re-establish a winning culture in a Miners program that’s won 10 games since 2010.
After winning 116 games and four state titles during his 13-year tenure at Fayetteville, Bauxite Coach Daryl Patton (above) will try to re-establish a winning culture in a Miners program that’s won 10 games since 2010.

BAUXITE -- Daryl Patton asked his new players Monday morning if they had ever played music during practice.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Bauxite Coach Daryl Patton, yelling out instructions to middle school players during the first day of fall practice Monday, guided the Miners’ Saline County neighbor, Bryant, from 1998-2002 before taking over at Fayetteville in 2003.

Several told Patton no.

"We're moving it on up, aren't we?" Patton said.

With a playlist of rock and hip-hop blaring from a portable speaker, Patton instructed Bauxite's football players for about three hours on a sweltering first day of fall practice for high school football teams in Arkansas.

Temperatures throughout most of the state reached the mid 90s with heat indexes close to 110 in some areas.

Bauxite, along with many other schools, practiced in the morning, with temperatures in the 80s and humidity readings making it feel like 100.

But the situation at Bauxite was not nearly as heated as the one Patton left in Fayetteville almost three months earlier.

Patton resigned suddenly May 12, citing personal and family reasons, a stunning development for a coach who was at the top of the high school football mountain in Arkansas.

The coach of Fayetteville's defending Class 7A state champions told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette later that month that his resignation was the result of an extramarital affair.

Patton, 48, wasn't sure if he would coach in 2016 despite his record of 116-43-2 at Fayetteville and four state championships (2007, 2011-2012, 2015).

But he received interested from several high schools in Arkansas and Texas, and Patton said he was hoping to find the right situation for him.

"I prayed every night," Patton said. "What does God want? What is his plan? Everything led back to coaching. That is my calling. I take pride in it."

Patton, a 1986 graduate of Bryant, received a call from Bauxite Athletic Director Josh Harrison on May 25, one day after Dustin Prescott resigned. Prescott was 1-9 in his only season with the Miners, defeating Waldron in Week 8.

Harrison offered Patton the Miners' job, Patton accepted and he was approved by the Bauxite School Board on May 26.

"They really sold me on their commitment to turn it around," Patton said.

One tangible improvement already under way is the installation of a new field turf at The Pit.

The turf cost $650,000 and is paid for through the school district and private donations. Also, the Miners' coaches offices will be moved upstairs in the school's fieldhouse by next season and will receive new televisions and furniture.

Patton said the turf is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 1. The Miners, who open the season with road games at Benton Harmony Grove (Sept. 1) and Glen Rose (Sept. 9) are scheduled to christen the new field Sept. 16 against Dumas in a nonconference game.

One aspect about coaching at Bauxite that excites Patton is being able to be more of a hands-on teacher.

Patton said that coaching at a Class 7A school such as Fayetteville can be more of a CEO-type position while in the smaller classifications, coaches are expected to do more on-field work. Patton will also work with Bauxite's junior high football program.

"There's going to be learning every day for the next two years," Patton said. "The kids are getting better. We don't play for another 30 days, so we'll have a chance to do some things."

Bauxite had been one of the top teams in the state under Jon Watson, who was 177-43 in 1990-2009 and led the Miners to a Class A state championship in 1996. Bauxite is 10-50 under three head coaches -- Shane Clancy, Mike Guthrie and Prescott -- since Watson retired.

The challenge of rebuilding the Miners in the 7-4A, of the state's toughest conferences, is something Patton said he is ready to take on. The 7-4A includes 4A state champion Nashville, Ashdown, Fountain Lake, Malvern and Pulaski Robinson.

"Ultimately, our No. 1 goal is to win a state championship," Patton said. "Some people will snicker and laugh when they hear that. But here's the thing: People used to snicker and laugh at Fayetteville, too. They said it can't be done.

"We want to win a state championship. We want to win the 7-4A. We want to beat Glen Rose and we want to beat Harmony Grove, two big rival games for us. We want to be the best academic school in the state, as far as football programs. We want to be able to handle adversity. We want to be physical.

"Our goals are the same that we had at Fayetteville. So, this year, the main thing I want to see from our kids is I want to see them play extremely hard. I want to see them to be the hardest-playing team in our conference. I want our kids to try to go out there and get better every snap."

Senior offensive lineman Lucas Dickson said Patton and his staff have worked with the Miners over the past two months to instill a new approach.

"They've changed everyone's attitude," Dickson said. "Everyone shows up for practice. Everyone tries harder. It's better than what we've had before."

The return to Saline County after a 13-year run in Fayetteville has provided Patton with more of an opportunity to see his family.

Patton and his wife Tracey have moved to Bauxite. Patton's stepson Cameron Vail, a junior, plays at Bryant. His daughter Courtney and stepdaughter Dylan both live in Bryant.

"My brother Tommy made a comment the other day and said over the last five years we saw each other three times," Patton said. "We've seen each other in the last two months probably a 100 times. It's really nice to see family members."

Patton is no longer coaching in the state's largest classification, but he appeared at ease Monday, overseeing his football team and speaking to a group that included the entire team, the school's cheerleaders and dance team after practice.

"When you build a monster, you have to feed the monster. That's tough," Patton said. "Being at Fayetteville, I wouldn't trade those days for anything. It was awesome. But it wore me out, it really did.

"I know this area. I know the coaches. My family was here. It was a no-brainer."

Sports on 08/02/2016

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