REDFIELD — The White Hall School District wasted little time in finding its next high school boys’ basketball coach.
Matt Williams, who spent this season leading the Texarkana Razorbacks, will move across the 5A-South Conference to coach the White Hall Bulldogs starting next season. Williams was one of several new hires approved at Tuesday’s school board meeting at Hardin Elementary.
“Matt has had time at Springdale and at Jonesboro, two really good programs with two really good basketball coaches,” WHSD superintendent Gary Williams said. “He spent some time with Dickey Nutt when he was coaching at the collegiate level.”
According to his Facebook page, Matt Williams studied at Arkansas State and Southeast Missouri State, two universities where Nutt served as head coach.
“He’s been around some really high-quality basketball coaches, and he comes highly recommended from those I know and trust,” Gary Williams said. “We had a really good interview, and I’m excited about him becoming part of our team.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Matt Williams succeeds Josh Hayes, who also moved across the 5A-South to become Hot Springs’ coach, where his son Jai’Chaunn will follow him for his senior season. The Hot Springs School District hired Hayes April 16.
Matt Williams will take over a Bulldogs team coming off its only state playoff appearance in the Hayes era. White Hall was 14-16 and 9-7 in the 5A-South, a No. 4 seed in the state tournament, losing to Alma in the first round.
Texarkana, officially known as Arkansas High School, finished 7-23 and 2-14 in the 5A-South for ninth and last place.
PERSONNEL MOVES
The WHSD accepted resignations from high school social studies teacher Zane Walton; high school science teacher Elizabeth Tuala; middle school math and seventh- and eighth-grade boys basketball coach Lowell Austin Bowen; and Hayes.
Alfonzo Dixon will transfer from middle school to high school social studies and become the department head.
New hires include Hunter Davis as Moody elementary physical education and middle school assistant football coach; Emily Davis as middle school English teacher; Angelia Wittke as middle school English teacher; Allison Chambers as high school science teacher; and Devin Etris as Moody music teacher.
Cappie Morgan will transfer from secretary Level 2 to Level 4, and Lindsey McAlister will transfer from aide to secretary Level 1.