Bentonville names Grant new coach

Bentonville assistant Jody Grant was promoted to head football coach Monday at the conclusion of the district’s school board meeting.

Grant, 39, has been at Bentonville since 2004 following coaching stints at Clinton and Vilonia. He served two years at Lincoln Junior High before he joined the Tigers’ coaching staff, where he worked with outside linebackers and defensive backs until he was named the defensive coordinator before the 2013 season.

Now he assumes the role vacated by Barry Lunney, who announced his retirement on Jan. 26 after he led Bentonville to consecutive Class 7A state championships and four titles in the past six years.

Grant was chosen out of 33 applicants for the job. Bentonville Athletic Director Scott Passmore and seven other people were part of a search committee that interviewed 10 of the applicants, then announced Grant and McAlester, Okla., head coach Bryan Pratt being the two finalists.

Grant’s salary will be raised to about $91,000 per year, effective immediately, and his contract will be renewed at that amount on July 1.