GENTRY -- Gentry's newly-hired head football coach said his ultimate goal as football coach is not just winning games but building quality young men of character through the game.
In a March 4 email shared by Randy Barrett, superintendent of Gentry Public Schools, Paul Ernest wrote: "I am a football coach; that's what I do, but my interest is in building quality young men through the game and not just winning football games at all cost. That sounds bad to some," Ernest wrote, "but I believe with all my heart that winning is the result of building character, accountability, discipline, effort and trust in young men. When winning is the only goal, decisions are made with the impact of winning being a high consideration. This impacts discipline, team chemistry and coaching in a negative way.
"I understand the nature of the beast is to be judged on your number of wins as a coach, and that is a burden I have chosen to bear; but for kids there has to be more. I know I will be fighting a numbers game when I am able to get there and get started," Ernest wrote, "so my number-one priority will be to identify quality young men who could help us to represent the school, community and families in the best possible way."
Ernest wrote the email to introduce himself and his family to Barrett and to express his excitement about taking over as Gentry's head football coach.
"I wanted to take a minute and introduce myself and get on your radar, so to speak," Ernest wrote. "My family and I are extremely excited about our move to Gentry and the new friendships and relationships we will build."
He apologized for not being able to meet everyone on a recent visit and pledged to do that as soon as he is able to spend a little more time on the Gentry campus.
"Again, I am honored to be a Pioneer, and I look forward to meeting each one of you and working together to help give our kids the best experience possible while ensuring they are prepared to contribute positively long after they have graduated," Ernest wrote.
The email mentioned his need to sell a home and to purchase or rent one in Gentry by May or June at the latest.
"If there is anyone who you feel could benefit from being a part of the program, please don't hesitate to send them my way," Ernest wrote. "It will take a unified effort to bring Pioneer football back to the level of years past. I am very honored to be a part of it, and it was easy to tell the people I have met, '[We] love Gentry, the school, the kids and are ready to be a part of something special.'"
School board members, on Feb. 23, approved a committee recommendation to hire Paul Ernest as Gentry High School's new football coach.
Ernest is currently in his fifth year at Nashville High School, where he is offensive coordinator for the football team there and teaches a test preparation course to prepare students for standardized testing. Prior to that, Ernest taught nine years at Horatio High School and served there as head football coach. Ernest graduated from Horatio High School in 1991. He received his bachelor's degree in education, specializing in physical education and health, from Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, in 2000. He received certification and training in driver's education from Ouachita Baptist University in 2008. He earned a master's degree in education from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in 2012, with certification in educational leadership and curriculum.
Ernest's wife is Jennifer. They have four boys, ages 16, 12, 8 and 6. Jennifer Ernest is a high school teacher at Horatio.
General News on 03/11/2015