Ferrell hired to lead New School basketball program

David Ferrell hired as youth basketball coordinator and boys basketball coach at The New School in Fayetteville
David Ferrell hired as youth basketball coordinator and boys basketball coach at The New School in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE -- Clayton Harrell wanted instant credibility for his fledgling high school basketball program at The New School, which won't play a varsity game until 2018.

David Ferrell, a veteran high school coach with more than 500 wins and college coaching experience, fit what he was looking for perfectly, Harrell said.

Ferrell, 52, who resigned as men's basketball coach at University of the Ozarks in March, was hired this week as youth basketball coordinator and boys high school coach for the small private school.

"We want to focus on three things -- character, commitment and community," said Harrell, who previously served as athletic director at St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston. "Our goals are to be excellent successful, on and off the field. When you meet someone like coach Ferrell and you see his past. You get to know what kind of man he is and the type of character and moral values he has. All the boxes are checked.

"When you bring in quality coaches like coach Ferrell, it makes my job as an athletic director, one enjoyable because you've got immediate respect and credibility when you can bring in coaches like that it was a no-brainer for us."

Ferrell brings a stellar coaching resume, winning more than 500 games in 24 seasons as a high school coach. He's also currently serving a two-year term as president of the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association and spent the past four seasons at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, an NCAA Division III school. He also has experience as an athletic director for much of his time at West Fork, which also made him attractive candidate, Harrell said.

Ferrell said the chance make history and construct a basketball program made the opportunity attractive to him.

"I've always considered myself a builder and if you're a builder this is what you want," Ferrell said. "This is literally making history every day and writing history of a program."

The New School Cougars won't play a varsity schedule until the 2018-19 school year when the school will have juniors, then add a senior class for the first time in 2019-20. But the basketball team, which will likely only include freshmen and sophomores, will play a junior varsity type schedule against freshmen or sophomore teams next year. They will play in a new 18,000-square foot gymnasium that is scheduled to be completed by August.

The basketball and volleyball teams will be part of the Arkansas Activities Association and put in Class 1A for the fall of 2018.

Sports on 04/29/2017

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