COACH OF THE YEAR.................................

QUITMAN HIGH SCHOOL

WHY HE WON:

State championships are a big accomplishment for local sports programs, and for Quitman, its championship drought ended in the 2016-2017 school year after one coach didn’t just bring home one state title, but three.

Tim Hooten has been coaching girls cross country, girls basketball and girls track at Quitman for the past four years, and this season, those teams all took home the Class 2A state championship in their respective sports. These are the first state championships in Quitman’s history.

“I felt great for the kids, just because it had never been done at our school,” Hooten said.

For his success in building up these sports programs, Hooten has been named the 2017 All-Arkansas Preps Coach of the Year.

“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “I think it’s a tribute to my kids because they’re the ones that do the work; they’re the ones that spend the hours. I’m just the one that puts the template out there and helps motivate them to be successful.”

Hooten’s players praised his coaching ability and the lessons he has taught them about teamwork, discipline and perseverance.

“He demands for us to always do our best and to work hard,” senior Reagan Rackley said. “He’s a very good coach; he knows his stuff.”

Hooten came to Quitman after coaching at Bigelow for a year. He said that even while coaching at Bigelow, he was aware of the potential of the student athletes at Quitman, but they needed direction and motivation to be able to pull off a championship.

“I out wasin justthe rest frank of and the up-frontworld is with that the you girls guys and can’t told them,win the ‘Look,big one,’”your reputationhe said. “That’s what we started working toward.”

Hooten said that being direct with teams is part of his coaching style.

“I your really weaknessesbelieve if are, you that talk you about can the improve,” elephant he in said. the room, if you analyze what

With multiple more states. than In 40 high years school,of experience,he played Hooten football, has basketballhad a career and that baseball spannedand