ROGERS -- Tony Travis will be returning to Pea Ridge, just not on the football field.
Travis, who spent the last three seasons as head football coach at Rogers Heritage, told his team on Tuesday he would be going back to the school district where he helped mold the program into a successful one.
This time he will be a middle school assistant principal, which was confirmed by the Pea Ridge Board of Education on Monday.
Travis said his only thoughts were preparing for spring football until he was approached a few weeks ago about the job in administration.
The fact that the opportunity was at Pea Ridge played a part, too, but he also has a few mixed feelings leaving Heritage and stepping away from coaching, he said.
"Then you go through several weeks of 'what do I want?'" Travis said. "The opportunity presented itself. Number one, I got my first job as a high school coach there at Pea Ridge. They were patient with me as a guy learning his way. And the same way getting a little taste of athletic administration there being athletic director.
"Had support and patience, so I feel comfortable going back in this role as my first job as an assistant principal. Looking forward to it and excited about it and very nervous about leaving football because I love what I do every day. You want to have a time frame for having success, but you can't. Some happen fast, and some take a little time. That's the only thing that stings a little for me is leaving after three years and not having more success."
The War Eagles went 2-28 in three seasons under Travis.
Keith Kilgore, athletic director for Rogers Public Schools, said a search for Travis' successor will begin immediately.
"We're gonna put together a short list of people to reach out to and be proactive to pursue possible candidates," Kilgore said. "The Rogers School District is very appreciative of Coach Travis and the leadership he provided for Heritage football."
Sports on 03/14/2019