Arnold Talks Titles, Players And Retirement

Fayetteville baseball coach Vance Arnold revived the Bulldogs baseball program two decades ago. Now, his teams are producing state titles and big-time prospects. Arnold talks to VYPE about growing up in Texarkana, Texas, starting the FHS program and trying for a fourth-straight state title. VYPE: Where did you grow up? Arnold: "I grew up in Texarkana, Texas. We moved to Fayetteville in high school, then I went to the University of Arkansas." VYPE: How important were sports to you as a kid? Arnold: "It was an every day deal. We played all three sports in junior high and summer baseball. Growing up in Texas, we lived on the edge of town. We played wiffleball and invented games. We roamed around and played all kinds of crazy games in the pastures." VYPE: What kind of high school baseball player were you? Arnold: "I thought I was pretty good. I played first base and pitched and was on two Legion teams. I reached the end of my career by the time I went to college. I was so young and dumb, I'm fortunate I got to go to college." VYPE: When did you decide you wanted to coach? Arnold: When I was in college. I went into business administration for two years and was just floundering. I played every intramural sport, and one night my wife told me I should go into coaching. I changed my major, went into education, and never regretted it." VYPE: How did you get the job at Fayetteville High? Arnold: My first teaching and coaching job was at Springdale Central Junior High. A football assistant and track job came open at Fayetteville under Joe Fred Young. I knew some people there, and I got the job. I coached football and track from 1980-88. That's when Norm DeBriyn (former Arkansas baseball coach), Rick Guyton (UA professor) and Jim Hawkins brought back the baseball program. We got the approval to add high school baseball, and I got the job. We were the first team in the conference to add baseball." VYPE: You've been at Fayetteville for 29 years, have you had other job offers or been tempted to leave? Arnold: "I looked at going to Georgia with football coach Alan Fahring, but my parents were older and in poor health. I had just started the baseball program in 1990, so I was pretty happy where I was." VYPE: You've coached so many great players, can you pinpoint one as the best? Arnold: No way. I've had tons of favorites. Every year I have different favorites. I've had several kids go on and do well. Blake Parker is playing in the Cubs organization and Ben Tschepikow is playing for Arkansas. We've had some kids have success at the next level. VYPE: What is your best memory at Fayetteville? Arnold: When we came back in 2003 and won the state championship for the first time. We had lost to Bentonville the year before. We beat Benton to win in 2003. Those are two of the largest crowds in Arkansas High School state baseball tournament history. It's quite an event playing in front of 5,000 people." VYPE: You're gunning for your fourth straight state title. How amazing and tough of a position is that? Arnold: It's special. We've started to talk to our kids about that. The previous year kids come back and work with us and our pro and college kids come back. It is special to see them hang out. This group is trying to keep the string going. We talk about it all the time as a coaching staff about how special of a program we have and the special athletes we have. It is going to be tough this year. You never know how weather or umpires are going to affect things. You never know in baseball." VYPE: You've accomplished so much, have you thought about retiring? Arnold: That's something I've talked about with my wife and other coaches. I've talked about it, but I have a great job and great facilities with great athletes. It's hard to imagine not coaching and working with great athletes. I have a group of fine guys that work with me, and they all have their responsibilities. We are a group of coaches instead of just one guy. It's hard to walk away from that." VYPE: When you do retire, do you have plans to spend your time? Arnold: I hunt and fish like crazy. My wife and I travel around going to Rock n' Roll concerts. Hopefully, they'll still let me ride around on the tractor on the baseball field some."