DECATUR -- The future of the Decatur High School football program looks a little brighter this coming season with the hiring of a new head coach and two assistants. Still, the program is plagued with the lack of numbers, something the coaches hope to change.
The fate of the 2016 Decatur Bulldog football program hung in the balance last season as players gathered at Bulldog Stadium for the first full day of practice, Aug. 15, 2016. At that time, 21 players showed up for practice, allowing the Decatur School Board to give John Unger and Shane Holland the green light to continue the football program. That is all in the past as the Bulldogs gathered for the 2017 football season, stronger in numbers and with three new football coaches.
With the success of the junior and senior high boys' and girls' track teams this year, Shane Holland requested and was granted to coach just track and cross-country programs this year, leaving an opening for a new head coach.
In July, the Decatur School District hired two new football coaches, Ryan Woolard, who replaced Holland as head coach, and assistant Sheldon McKinzie, who will take over as defensive coordinator. Cody Reid was added to the football staff July 31 and will hold the linebacker and receiver coaching position.
Woolard comes to Decatur from McDonald County, with eight years of teaching experience, seven years as a varsity coach, and one year in junior high.
"I mainly worked on the offensive side of the ball," said Woolard. "I also work in the booth helping the coach call plays," he said.
He grew up in McDonald County, Mo., and attended Missouri Southern University in Joplin, Mo., where he obtained his teaching degree.
Sheldon McKinzie is no stranger to this part of northwest Arkansas. He graduated from Gravette High School in 2002 and was a linebacker for the Lions' successful 9-2 winning team. After graduation, McKinzie joined the United States Air Force and served as a line specialist, fueling and servicing many of the Air Force's top-of-the-line aircraft.
After completing a six-year tour in the military, McKinzie went back to school and earned a teaching degree in history from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. While in college, McKinzie volunteered his services to the Lions'mostly football program and head coach Bill Harrelson.
"I helped in Gravette working with a little bit of everything," McKinzie said. "I did the offensive line, tight ends, linebackers, and the secondary, mainly safeties on the defensive side of the ball. I am more of a defensive coach."
Woolard believes that every kid should participate in some kind of sports program. The lessons learned can and will help to build character and better prepare them for the challenges they will face in the adult world, he said.
"Sports is a learning experience. If they don't play sports they don't understand," Woolard said. "I have learned so much from being on a sports team and coaching. If the kids understand perseverance and how to deal with adversity, they will become better members of society."
One of the biggest challenges Woolard, McKinzie, and Reid face is building a roster. Since summer practice began in mid-July, the coaches have had 13 players that consistently attended each session. These are better numbers than last year at the same time, but to the coaches this is unacceptable. One of McKinzie's goals is to recruit anyone interested in playing on the team regardless of experience.
"Football is for everybody," said McKinzie. "I think one of the big things here is that people say they don't participate because they have never played sports before. We have a couple of kids that have been coming to summer workouts who have never played before and that is fine. Those kids want to be here and we will be here for them to get better at whatever they do, whether it is football or any other sport."
Woolard echoes McKinzie's sentiment.
"I want kids to play as many sports as they can," Woolard said. "Everybody should be playing sports growing up. Even if they don't enjoy sports, they should at least try it. We want kids to be involved in activities, not just sports but activities like band, for example. We will be there to support them and we hope they will respond by supporting us."
The next two seasons Woolard, McKinzie, and Reid plan on rebuilding the Decatur football program, not just on the field but in the stands. They would like to see the stands full of loyal Decatur Bulldog fans cheering the team on at every home game. Not just football, but other Decatur sports, whether it is volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer or track, it's about bringing the community back into sports.
"This is a new season, a new culture," Woolard said. "School involvement, school pride is something that we as coaches really want to build up overall, not just for football but for everything. We are here to change the program and the culture not only for Decatur football but the community as well, and we will strive to make it work."
Decatur High School 2017 Football Schedule:
9/1 -- Berryville at Decatur 7 p.m.
9/8 -- at Gentry 7 p.m.
9/22 -- at Mountainburg 7 p.m.
9/29 -- at Magazine 7 p.m.
10/6 -- at Hackett 7 p.m.
10/13 -- JC Westside at Decatur 7 p.m.
10/20 -- at Western Yell County, Havana 7 p.m.
10/27 -- Danville at Decatur 7 p.m.
11/3 -- at Lavaca 7 p.m.
Sports on 08/16/2017