After 5 straight Arkansas 7A titles, Buck James leaves Bryant for Conway

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With about two months before the start of fall camp, five-time defending Arkansas 7A high school football state champ Bryant is in the market for a new head coach. Tuesday, Buck James announced he was leaving Bryant to take-over the head coaching job at Conway.

James has had Bryant consistently ranked in the Top 100 of the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football, during the program’s run to five straight titles. Last year, the Hornets finished No. 49 in the nation.

Bryant in the HSFA 300 since 2017

2022 – No. 50 – Record: 12-0

2021 – No. 52 – Record: 13-1

2020 – No. 25 – Record: 13-1

2019 – No. 24 – Record: 13-0

2018 – No. 98 – Record: 11-2

Since taking-over at Bryant in 2016, James compiled an 80-9 record. The program has won 53 straight against in-state opponents.

James heads to Conway to take-over for Keith Fimple, who resigned earlier this month to become the athletic director for the Springdale Public Schools system. Fimple was 44-7 during his five years at the head of the Wampus Cats’ program. Last year, Conway finished No. 5 in the HSFA Arkansas Top 10 and No. 249 in our national rankings.

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.