Des Arc, Drew Central hire football coaches over holiday weekend

By Kyle Sutherland 

In a very busy football offseason that has now seen more than 40 head-coaching openings, two more positions were filled during Memorial Day weekend as Drew Central promoted junior high coach Larry White to lead the varsity team and Des Arc hired Brandon Barbaree to replace BJ Paschal, who stepped down in May to assume duties as the school’s principal.

It has been somewhat of a roller coaster for Barbaree in 2022 but that all seems to have all worked itself out as he takes over for Paschal, who led the Eagles for the past two seasons and took them to the 2A state championship game in 2020.

Barbaree initially accepted the Jacksonville job in February after working last school year in an administrative role for the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District. Ultimately, there were some disagreements between both sides which led to Barbaree deciding to move on and continue the search on where his next move would be.

He felt that Des Arc would be a great fit because he is familiar with the exciting atmosphere 2A football brings, knows the strong culture of the program, and is also no stranger to the area, having coached at both Carlisle and Lonoke. Another positive, by his third day on the job he was able to work with his players.

“I did not feel there was support all the way around [at Jacksonville],” Barbaree said. “Not getting to see the kids that I was going to coach, not being able to go over there every day, and then just some contract stuff that should not take place.’

“Just sitting down with your family you go, ‘Hey, you don’t know what you are going to make, you don’t know what you are going to be doing, and you don’t get to see the kids you are going to coach after two months of being hired’, so it is really hard to jump into that 100% if they do not give you a chance to do it.”

This will be Barbaree’s first varsity head-coaching job since 2018, and he was not sure that he would get back into it this year after the Jacksonville job did not work out.

“I have coached against Des Arc I think six or seven of my years as a head coach,” Barbaree said. “I knew that if I was going to get back in football that I fit with a small town, I love Friday nights in 2A. It is something special when a whole community shuts down to come watch a football game. This fits with where my kids will know everyone in the stands. The specialness of 2A football, from whenever I was at Carlisle and England, it is just outstanding. In Des Arc the environment there is the exact same and I have great respect for the people that are there.”

Along with his duties as junior high head football coach, White also was the defensive coordinator for the senior high team. He issued a statement on May 27 via Facebook:

“I’m so excited and appreciative for this opportunity to lead the Drew Central football program. Thank you everyone for your support, now let’s go to work! #HardHatsAndLunchboxes #PirateNation.”

Though White is familiar with the program, he faces an uphill climb taking over a program that has won just one game over the past two seasons. The Pirates will remain in the 3A-6 conference for the 2022-24 conference cycle with Barton, Dollarway, Fordyce, Camden Harmony Grove, Lakeside and Rison.