Athletic Director: Kevin Ramey, [email protected]
Athletic Trainer: Jaime Mann, [email protected]
Strength & conditioning: Larry Walker, [email protected]
FOOTBALL
Varsity Blackhawks
Head coach
• Stephen Neal, [email protected]
This is Coach Stephen Neal's first year at Pea Ridge. He is the head Blackhawk football coach. A graduate of Jenks, Okla., High School, Neal graduated from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma.
As a student, he played football and ran track. Now, he bikes and is involved in general fitness.
"I want to develop positive and impactful relationships with young men and women," Neal said about why he coaches. "No other profession offers the unique rewards of coaching and watching young men and women grow and mature into responsible, character driven and productive citizens of a community.
"It is a great pleasure to watch and help young people overcome the many obstacles of growing up and teaching the lessons I know will impact them later in life."
As an athlete, Neal said the best advice he ever received was:
1. NEVER....GIVE...UP
2. Be strong, and go to work again.
3. Phillipians 4: 4-7
And, his advice to young athletes: "You always have a choice: give effort in some things and be good, or give great effort in everything you do and become great. Choose to be great.
He teaches senior English.
He and his wife, Jessica, have sons, Jacob, 25, and Colton, 10, and a daughter, Reagan, 8. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading and traveling.
Assistant coaches
• Cody Alexander
This is Coach Cody Alexander's second year at Pea Ridge. He has previously coached football, baseball, track and wrestling. A graduate of Gravette High School in 2007, he graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2011.
He played football and basketball as a student.
The best advice he ever received as an athlete?
"No one will remember how good of a player you are. They will remember how
good of a teammate you are."
The advice he would give to student athletes?
"Have fun and play every sport that you can because it doesn't last long and there is nothing else like high school sports.
He teaches physical education and health.
Coach Alexander and his wife, Shelby, have a daughter, Addison. He enjoys anything Razorbacks.
• Lafe Caton, defensive coordinator
Lafe Caton, defensive coordinator for varsity football, assistant seventh-grade football coach and varsity boys track coach has been at Pea Ridge for five years.
A graduate of Inola High School in Inola, Okla., he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Harding University in Searcy. As a student, he played football, basketball, baseball and track. He has coached football, basketball, baseball and track previously. He occasionally plays softball and basketball.
"I want to make a positive difference in the lives of people (athletes, students, parents, co-workers) and I enjoy the challenges that sport provides through competition," Caton said.
The best advise he received as an athlete was: "Don't worry about the future (scholarships, college choice, etc.) you just need to do the very best you can, where you are, with what you have and the future will take care of itself."
His advise to student athletes:
"Be involved in as many activities as you can handle, make as many friends as you can and regularly meet with people that will help you grow in a relationship with God. Tell the people that love and help you 'Thanks.'"
Caton teaches biology, anatomy and physiology, environmental science and physical education.
He enjoys shepherding at the Southside church of Christ in Rogers, spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, reading and fishing.
He and his wife, Marla have four children, Cade (and wife Ashton, who have two children); Zach (and Kimberly, who have three children); Casey (and Malkah); and Casi, daughter.
• Matt Easterling
Coach Matthew Easterling has been at Pea Ridge for 11 years. He currently coaches football and baseball. A graduate of Pea Ridge High School, Easterling earned his college degree from Williams Baptist College.
As a student, he played football and baseball.
He coaches because he loves the game.
The best advice he ever received?
"Life is like a breakfast of ham and eggs. The chicken was there, but the pig was committed. Whatever it is you do in life, do it to the very best of your ability."
The advice he would give to student athletes?
"Do what you love and give it your best. If you don't love what you're doing, then you can't give your best." (Al Lopez)
He teaches physical education, health and wellness.
He and his wife, Gina, have two children -- Allie and Andrew. He enjoys camping, biking and attending Naturals' games.
• Josh Reynolds
Coach Josh Reynolds has been at Pea Ridge for 10 years. A graduate of Harrison High School, he earned his college degree from College of the Ozarks. He played football and baseball as a student.
"I enjoy being around the athletes and teaching the skills of the specific sport," Reynolds said. "It is fun to watch the kids grow and mature into young adults."
The best advice he ever received as a student athlete was "You have to prepare for the unknown, attention to detail is key," from Coach Tom Tice.
Reynolds' advice to student athletes is "Stay true to who you are and out work everyone else."
He teaches eighth grade history.
Reynolds and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Kayti and Natalee. He said he enjoys spending time with his family.
• Crosby Tuck
This is Coach Tuck's first year in Pea Ridge where he is the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.
A graduate of Shiloh, where he played football, baseball and track, he earned his college from University of Arkansas. He wants to coach to "positively impact kids' lives through what I love doing," he said.
Tuck said he learned how to live his life when adversity hits and how to live with determination and drive. He said all students are different and have different needs.
"I just want my students and players to know they can trust me and that I will always be there for them with whatever problem they may have at that time," he said.
Tuck will teach eighth-grade math. He and his wife, Lauren have two children, Nate, 2, and Cole, 7 months.
Jr. Blackhawks
Head coach
• Cody Alexander, [email protected]
Assistant coaches
• Nathan Claytor
• John King
• Stephen Neal
Seventh-grade Blackhawks
Head coach
• Matt Easterling, [email protected]
Assistants
• Lafe Caton
• Stephen Neal
• Crosby Tuck
Sports on 08/10/2016