Brown ready to get started at Smackover

After qualifying for the playoffs for the seventh straight year, Smackover is turning to a veteran of Texas football to continue their success on the gridiron.

Brian Brown, who has spent 29 years coaching in Texas, was recently named as Smackover's new football coach.

Brown comes to Smackover after serving as the head coach at Red Oak High School.

Prior to his head-coaching stint at Red Oak, Brown was the head coach at Liberty-Eylau when current Smackover-Norphlet School District Superintendent Dave Wilcox worked there.

"I know Mr. Wilcox, so that was one thing, but I wasn't real sure. Being from East Texas, I know a lot about Southwest Arkansas football," Brown said. "When I was at Liberty-Eylau, we played Nashville, Arkansas High and Ashdown, so I know a lot about that area, and I know there's good athletes everywhere. That attracted me, and then once I got there, the people were great."

Brown said the Bucks' offense will be based out of the spread.

"I will run a spread offense, but I always base it depending on what I have," Brown said. "I've been on Hudl, and I've seen the kids, so I kind of know some of the things they have, but not everything because I can't see it just on video. We've run a spread with the tight end and sometimes with an H-back, so it varies from what kind of kids I have."

Under former coach Mike Baysinger, the Bucks played at a fast pace, and Brown said that could be in the offing depending on personnel.

"I've done it both ways," Brown said. "Again, it depends on what kids you have. We'll do it at times, and not at other times depending on what's good for us, but we do have that in."

As far as the defense is concerned, Brown said he is leaning towards an odd-man front.

"I would lean towards a three-man front, but I'm going to say we're going to be multiple," Brown said.

"With the number of kids we have, I am going to say we're going to be able to do a few things, but I like an odd-front defense if I have a good nose guard, so that's probably what I'll lean towards."

Brown, who won a pair of state titles while at Liberty-Eylau as an assistant coach, said he would like to make an addition to the coaching staff.

"There's one guy that I'm trying to bring that I would really love to have," Brown said. "I think it would be great to get him, but that stuff has to work out with teaching, so hopefully it will work out because to me, it's a really big deal."

Brown added that he has met with the team, and he anticipates being able to get started with spring practice.

"We're working on that right now," Brown said. "That won't be a problem from here, so I'll be down there for that and try to get going and start from scratch and going fast."