Previous head coach for the wildcats football team, Chirs Wood coached the team for 17 years before taking a position in the Springdale Public Schools athletic department. Early this year, the school district announced that Brent Eckley would be taking Woods spot as head coach.
“Coach Eckley’s experience and success in the state of Missouri allows him to bring in new ideas and a fresh perspective on how to bring continued success to the Har-Ber football program,” Coach Benji Mahan said.
Mahan has 20+ years of experience working for and coaching Championship High School football programs. Brent Eckley has coached for 29 years, 24 of which he has been a head coach. Before coming to the Wildcats, Eckley coached at Jackson High School and throughout his years of coaching holds a 230-59 overall record that includes one state championship, one runner-up finish, 18 playoff appearances, 16 district championships and 15 conference championships.
Senior Lance Daspit mentioned that Eckley is very involved. “I feel like he’s tried to build more of a relationship with us and he’ll sit us down and have team meetings,” Daspit said. “He’s implemented tough, smart, and strong. He wants tough players but also smart ones,” Senior quarterback Braden Sprague said.
Eckley has also introduced new programs and lessons to the team, for example a leadership council. “We have started a leadership council and I think the players that are on it feel good about contributing to our overall culture,” Eckley said. “The lessons have focused on a lot of different areas.”
These areas include how to be a leader, how to gain weight, hydration, how to watch film, mental performance and visualization, body language, mental and physical toughness, grit, growth mindset, process among others.
“The players are benefitting from Coach Eckley’s leadership by learning a different way of doing things. As young people, it is important to learn various ways of working a process to try and be successful,” Mahan said.
“The benefit of that is as they grow older, they can pull from different processes and decide what works best for them in order to be successful.” Mahan said.
“He’s pushed us extra. He wants smart players, so no mistakes. He’s a real stickler about making no mistakes and just playing clean.” Sprague said.
As for physical improvement, Eckley has implemented speed and strength. “Long practices, sometimes after school too. A lot more lifting then we’ve done in the past, a lot of running way more conditioned than we have ever been,” Daspit said.
“We have to get bigger and stronger. This takes time, but I think we’re on the right track. We give the boys goal weights, all year long, to keep them getting bigger and heavier. This allows us to compete better against other teams.” Eckley said.
According to players on the team, dedication is extremely important to all the work these boys are putting in. Sprague explains that players have to focus on the team and the game.
“I believe everyone is bought in this year, and even if we don’t have the talent, I think everyone has bought in.” Sprague said.
According to the team, the coaches and athletes have locked in on their new procedures and are committed to the football team’s renovated program.
“All we can do is try to improve every day and do our best. I’m really proud of the boys. They have done a really good job of competing and trying to improve. Their focus has been great!” Eckley said.