Mountainburg coach Tom Harrell

Mountainburg coach Tom Harrell is one of those rare coaches who is still coaching where his career begin. Although, he has been coaching the Dragons for 19 years, he has actually been at the school for 22. Growing up in Alma where he played for legendary Coach Frank Vines, Harrell didn't travel too far down the road when he took a teaching job at Mountainburg over two decades ago.


VYPE: So why Mountainburg?

Harrell: There was a junior high basketball job open, and I applied but didn't get it. I did get a job teaching health and was a volunteer coach for three years before becoming the head coach in 1990. I've always fit better here. Teaching brought me here, but I stayed because of the fit.

VYPE: What is the best thing about your job?

Harrell: At times, it is very frustrating. But, there are rewarding years like last year when we went 10-3 and made it to the third round of the playoffs. In the years we weren't as successful, the kids made it all worthwhile because they are good kids.

VYPE: So, what is frustrating about your job and what is the hardest thing you've had to do?

Harrell: I've always had to fight numbers, and one year we only had 18 kids but had a decent year around .500. In 2002, we started with 21 kids, but had nine season-ending injuries and had to forfeit the last three games. We had one kid with a lacerated liver who was in IC for a week, two ACL injuries, two broken legs and a broken hand among the injuries.

The hardest decision I had to make was forfeiting the last three games that year. It was getting to the point with the way the kids were getting hurt I could see in the other 12 kids' eyes that they were wondering if they were going to be next. If you are afraid of getting hurt, then you are going to get hurt. We had one senior healthy, and I hated to do that to him his senior year but I didn't see any sense of subjecting the kids to it (the chance of getting hurt).

It worked out well. The next year we had one of our best years and went to the playoffs and beat undefeated Hector.

VYPE: How has the game changed over the years?

Harrell: Football is this part of the state is a lot better. There is a dramatic difference from when I first started. I've adapted and learned from getting our butts kicked by someone else. This town is unique because we don't have a lot of kids. So, I've had to fit the offense and defense to the type of kids I have. Some years, we'll throw the ball and some years we'll run the ball.

VYPE: Have you had the opportunity to leave? Why or why not?

Harrell: I've had some opportunities, but I've been happy here. I'm not a person who likes to change a lot, and the town has been good to me. The school is a good fit for me. Our administration and community has been very supportive. As far as wanting my head, I haven't ever heard about it. They have stuck with me through the lean years. I'm not going to run off after a good year.

VYPE: What is your most memorable play or game?

Harrell: In 2004, we were playing Elkins here and were down 28-7 in the fourth quarter. Somehow we came back and won 38-28. I remembered we scored a touchdown and the floodgates opened. We had two onside kicks and converted both to touchdowns and a stop on defense. It was a magical quarter.

Also, beating Rison in the state playoffs last season 31-24 stands out, and then in 2003 when we beat undefeated Hector in the state playoffs.

VYPE: Do you like practice or games better?

Harrell: Practice, I get way too nervous during the games. It's getting worse than when I started. I think the anxiety is the pressure I put on myself to be successful.

VYPE: What do you do when you aren't around football?

Harrell: I like to fish particularly kayak fishing. I like to go to the Mulberry River and Frog Bayou (Clear Creek) and hang out with the family. My 71-year old dad, Lewis, goes with me, too.

VYPE: Tell us about your family.

Harrell: My wife Heather is the perfect coaches' wife. She films the games, and we'll watch film no matter what time it is when we get home. She's also my number one critic. Twin stepsons Dallas and Dillon Carr played during that year when we had all the injuries and became all-state players. Another stepson Trey Stanfield is a tight end/linebacker for me now. And my son, Jacob is a junior at Van Buren and plays in the band.

VYPE: Is this what you thought you would be doing?

Harrell: I found my electric football game my when I was seven or eight, and I had plays drawn up on cards in the box. When I went to college, at first I was a forestry major then thought I would be a draftsman but finally found my way to coaching.

I'll do this until I wake up and can't stand it. Besides, you don't get paid well fishing smallmouth bass and perch out of a creek.