Benton scheduled to introduce Quinn as new football coach

Benton will most likely introduce former Southern Arkansas football coach Steve Quinn as its new head man at a special school board meeting today at 5:30 p.m. Quinn would succeed coach Marc Jones, who resigned after posting back-to-back 2-8 seasons.

The Benton Courier reported that Quinn interviewed for the job Monday with four other finalists and interviewed again Tuesday. Benton athletic director Scott Neathery told the paper pending the outcome of the interview, the school board would introduce Quinn tonight as the new coach.

Benton apparently chose Quinn over Lonoke coach Jeff Jones, Fort Smith Northside defensive coordinator Rusty Bush, Benton Junior High coach Wayne Parker, and Fayetteville running game coordinator Drew Yoakum. Benton didn't interview those candidates a second time.

SAU fired Quinn after the Muleriders beat Arkansas-Monticello in November following the regular-season finale and hired former Texarkana High School coach Bill Keopple Dec. 12. Quinn compiled a 39-47 record at SAU in eight seasons. His 2003 Mulerider squad finished 9-3 and earned an NCAA Division II playoff berth. SAU finished ranked No. 11 nationally. Quinn has never been a high school head coach and only worked as one season as a prep an assistant.

Quinn served as offensive line coach and assistant head coach at SAU from 1997-99 under current Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts. SAU tabulated a 26-5 record in those years. Quinn produced eight All-GSC offensive linemen and one All-American in three seasons. He spent the 2000 season at Northwestern (La.) University before coming back to Magnolia as the Muleriders' head coach in 2001..

Quinn installed a run-oriented triple option attack at SAU, which would be a contrast to Jones's Spread scheme. Some of Quinn's teams racked up impressive offensive statistics. The 2005 squad ranked No. 6th nationally in rushing and 22nd in total offense.

Before his first stint at SAU, Quinn was at Eastern New Mexico from 1994-1996, where he served as offensive coordinator while working with the offensive line. In 1993 he was at Northwest Missouri State University, as an assistant; at Pascagoula (Miss.) High School from 1989-1992 as offensive coordinator; Baylor University in 1987 and 1988 as a graduate assistant; and at his alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, in 1986, as a part-time assistant coach where he worked with defensive ends and linebackers.

Quinn graduated from OBU in 1985 with his B.S.E., and received his M.Ed. from Baylor in 1989. He graduated from Mena High School in 1981.