State sports briefs

Central Arkansas high school football coach steps down after 9 seasons, will become AD

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/THOMAS METTHE -- 9/29/2017--
Conway head coach Clint Ashcraft yells to his players during the third quarter of North Little Rock's 24-14 win on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, in North Little Rock.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/THOMAS METTHE -- 9/29/2017-- Conway head coach Clint Ashcraft yells to his players during the third quarter of North Little Rock's 24-14 win on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, in North Little Rock.

Clint Ashcraft is stepping down as Conway's football coach after accepting the school's athletic director position.

Ashcraft, 43, was hired by the Conway School Board as the Wampus Cats' athletic director Tuesday night and confirmed to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Wednesday night that he will no longer be the school's football coach after eight seasons.

He succeeds Steve Daniels, who is retiring.

"It's something I've wanted to do on the back end of my career," Ashcraft said of going into administration. "I would have like to have coached a few more years. I couldn't control the timing of when that job came open. I felt like if I did not apply, then I wouldn't get an opportunity in the future."

Conway went 9-4 last season and advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals, where it lost to eventual Class 7A state champion North Little Rock. He went 68-37 in 9 seasons at Conway and 99-52 in 13 years overall, including 4 seasons at Siloam Springs.

Ashcraft said there were discussions about him continuing as football coach, but that ultimately wasn't an option because of the size of Conway's athletic program which has 14 sports. He met with Conway's football team Wednesday and told them to continue to buy in with the next head coach.

While Ashcraft is excited about the next step in his career, leaving coaching is tough for him.

"It was bittersweet today," Ashcraft said. "You're getting to do something you got on your career goal board, but at the same time, you're letting go of something you have a love and a passion for."

Conway expects to fill the football coaching position in the coming weeks, Ashcraft said, and there will be a committee formed to find the next coach.

The Wampus Cats' vacancy is the second in the 7A-Central Conference this offseason. Little Rock Central's coaching position is open after the retirement of Ellis "Scooter" Register in February.

-- Jeremy Muck

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