By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
El Dorado superintendent Jim Tucker said Friday the school’s search for a football coach is going as scheduled. Scott Reed resigned in December as the Wildcats’ head coach to take over the program at Cabot.
El Dorado formed a committee headed by Tucker, Phillip Lansdell and Matthew Shepherd to search for the new coach.
“We have not conducted any interviews, yet. We have met with some. The process is moving forward and we are getting closer,” Tucker said.
“We’ve received numerous calls of interest. I can’t tell you a number. I don’t know how many it was - a lot. A lot of people are interested. We’re in a good position. We have a good football program. We have good facilities. Salary is very competitive. Right now, it’s a premier job in the state as far as football goes. We have real good interest in the job. We’re going to end up with a really good football coach.”
Tucker was understandably vague when discussing the search. Most of the applicants are currently employed by other schools. He said there is no deadline set for filling the position.
“We want to get it done as soon as possible. But, that depends on several different things. I’m not setting a definite timeline at all. I don’t want to paint ourselves into a corner. We’re going to take as much time as it takes to find the right person,” he said.
“We have tons of great coaches that are interested in this job. Now we’re looking for a great coach who is also a great person. That’s what we want leading our students. That’s what we want influencing our students. That’s what we’re looking for.”