Arkansas Tech University - Agricola Yearbook (Russellville, AR)

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: Birds of a feather..... Kenneth Shores, Jim Willis, Charles Pearson, and Bill Chevaillier shoot the breeze in the | hall of Dean.

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Students Are Working ie Blackard helps a little = : 3g 3 og 2s ‘ g Ee Howard Parten plays wit falloween. Below: Kevin R . . boy in

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UCA coach heads Tech staff Stephens [center] is joined by President Kersh [left] and Athletic Director Don Sevier at the press conference. Ken Stephens, former coach of the highly suc- cessful UCA Bears, was named head football coach at Arkansas Tech in December. The an- nouncement was made at a press conference at Tucker Coliseum Stephens, who was head football coach at Lamar University of the Southland Conference, resigned in November after posting a 3-8 season record. His overall record at Lamar was 11-33. “It’s good to be back in Arkansas. I’m glad to be back home. I’m looking forward to renew- ing old acquaintances with old coaching buddies in the AIC,”’ said Stephens, who had a 67-35-6 record in nine years at UCA [1972-81]. He led the Bears to three outright and one co- championship of the AIC title. Stephens didn’t feel he had failed at Lamar. “T feel like I just ran out of time.’’ ‘My reason for being here is that I’m taking this as a personal challenge to make Arkansas Tech as good as the best in the AIC. Tech has a rich athletic tradition, one of the best through the years.”’ Stephens said recruiting will be the key to tur- ning the Tech program around. ‘“‘It’s the most important thing. We will try to develop a good locl basis. We will recruit as close to home as possible.’ “T’m definitely an offensive coach. I won’t spend a lot of time with the defense. I'll be call- ing the offensive plays [during the games]. I’ve always done that. I won’t change now. Stephens commented about the rigorous Tech schedule. ‘‘The first thing in a season is schedul- ing. You have to get teams you can beat. We have three teams [besides conference play] that we have contracts with. I’m not saying that they are too tough, but that we will have to upgrade our own program.”’ Athletic Director Don Sevier said he had known Stephens for a long time and that he met all the requirements for the coaching Tech was looking for. ‘“We wanted someone who was well known in Arkansas and who knew the high school coaches and a man who had ideals. We had a number of quality applicants. We feel like Stephens is the best coach we would have hired and we’re extremely happy to have him at Arkansas Tech.’’ said Sevier. The Wonder Boys haven’t won or shared an AIC title since 1971 and have had only three win- ning seasons since then. Under Stephens, UCA made four trips to the NAIA playoffs, reaching the championship game against national powerhouse Texas A I in 1976. : Prior to his going to UCA, Stephens was a highly successful high school coach at North Lit- tle Rock Ole Main. His Wildcats won three state titles and produced a 66-25-3 record. Stephens also worked as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas for a year before returning to UCA where he was a two-sport star in football and track in the early 1950’s. Stephens spoke of the competitiveness of the AIC. ‘‘Overall I think the AIC is much better than it was three of four years ago. The athletes are bigger and stronger. The prestige of the league has improved so much. More and more kids are staying in the state and playing in the AIC. It’s a much more worthwhile situation for them.”’