Carpenter retires at Junction City

Junction City Coach David Carpenter is retiring after 37 years, including 29 years as a head coach, effective immediately.

Carpenter’s retirement was announced in a news release from Junction City statistician Wayne Pumphrey.

Carpenter led the Dragons to six Class 2A state champion - ships and finished 242-93-1 in 29 years as a head coach at Corning (1986), Clarendon (1987-89) and Junction City (1990-93 and 1996-2016). From 1994-1995, Carpenter spent one year apiece at Warren and Mountain Home, respectively, until returning to Junction City in 1996.

With his retirement, Carpenter is the 10th-winningest coach in Arkansas high school football.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s attempts to reach Carpenter were unsuccessful.

Junction City won one playoff game before Carpenter, the son of the late Henderson State coach and Arkansas Sports Hall of Famer Sporty Carpenter, arrived.

Carpenter, 60, won 226 games in Junction City, with 55 of those coming in the playoffs. From 1998-2016, Carpenter averaged 11 victories per season and never finished with less than seven victories. The Dragons have been in the playoffs in Class 2A and Class 3A for 19 consecutive seasons, all under Carpenter.

Junction City has won six Class 2A state championships since 2003 (2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014). The Dragons had a 40-game winning streak from 2012-14 with running back Jaqwis Dancy, quarterback Randall Holyfield and tight end/defensive end Jamario Bell. The streak was extended to 41 games in 2015 but was snapped by Rison.

In 2014, Carpenter was named the Democrat-Gazette’s All-Arkansas Preps Coach of the Year after leading Junction City to a 13-0 season that culminated in the school’s third consecutive Class 2A state championship.

Junction City, in its first season in Class 3A this year, finished 8-4 overall and 6-1 in the 6-3A Conference behind Fordyce. The Dragons lost at Rivercrest 14-13 in the Class 3A second round Nov. 18.

Carpenter, who played football at Henderson State from 1976-79, will remain as Junction City’s athletic director and head coach of the school’s boys’ and girls’ track and field teams.

Crafting a legacy

David Carpenter announced his retirement as Junction City head coach Thursday. Carpenter is the 10th winningest coach in Arkansas high school football.

COACHING VICTORIES

367 Frank McClellan (Barton)

291 Mike Malham, (Cabot*)

284 Tommy Tice (Harrison, Huntsville) 271 Bernie Cox (LR Central)

270 Frank Vines (Alma)

265 Jerry Clay (Fountain Lake, Lake Hamilton)

261 Jarrell Williams (Springdale)

256 Don Campbell (Corning, Sheridan, Wynne)

248 Barry Lunney Sr. (FS Southside, Bentonville)

242 David Carpenter (Corning, Clarendon, Junction City)

*Active