Coach calls it quits

Vilonia Coach Ron Young has resigned after two seasons with the Eagles.

Nick Newman, the school’s athletic director, confirmed Young’s resignation Wednesday to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Young’s resignation was accepted by the Vilonia School Board on Tuesday night.

Young was 6-14 in two seasons with the Eagles, taking over for Michael Stout before the 2016 season. Stout served as Vilonia’s interim coach in 2015 after Jim Stanley left the school.

Vilonia finished 1-9 this season and 1-6 in the 5A-West Conference. The Eagles defeated Clarksville 48-28 on Oct. 27. They had a 29-18 victory at Greene County Tech on Sept. 1, but had to forfeit the game later in September because of an ineligible player.

Newman, who was hired by Vilonia in February from Conway, said he wants to hire a proven winner.

“I want somebody that’s going to come in here and be the best fit for our kids and our community,” Newman said. “This is a blue-collar community. I want somebody that comes in and is willing to put in the work and have our kids put in the work.”

Of the Eagles’ 62 players at the end of the season, 32 were sophomores.

“The future is bright for Vilonia football,” Newman said.

The coaching position is open on the Vilonia School District website. Newman said he plans to keep the position open until after the state championship games in December. He added that he wants to do interviews by January and have a coach in place by late February-early March.