DECATUR -- When Dayton Shaw, head boys' basketball coach for two years, resigned from his Decatur Bulldog position to take a similar one closer to home, it left the program without a coach. Fortunately for the boys' program, the Decatur School Board found a perfect candidate to fill the void left by Shaw. And, better still, this new coach is no stranger to the Bulldog program in a unique way.
Austin Froderking and the Arkansas Arts Academy Diamonds have faced Shaw and his Bulldog boys' team many times over the last several years. In fact, the Diamonds and Bulldogs played three times during the 2021-22 regular season. All three times resulted in wins for Arts Academy and losses for the Bulldogs. But the Bulldogs turned the table on the Diamonds, defeating them in the first round of the district playoffs and ending the Arts Academy season. Both teams are part of the 2A Region 1 basketball conference.
One of the most memorable games of last season was a conference contest at Arts Academy's home gym in Rogers. The varsity Diamonds were up by 18 points at halftime when senior Edgar Herrera caught fire and pulled the Bulldogs to within two points with a minute left in the game. Arkansas Arts Academy went on to win the contest but not before the Decatur team left a lasting impression on Froderking. So much so that when he heard of the opening in Decatur, he decided to apply for that position.
"When Decatur came open, I saw a real opportunity to be around more support from the community and staff. It just seemed like a good opportunity for me," Froderking stated.
He was hired on June 10 and became the new Bulldog boys' head basketball coach.
Five days later, the Bulldog basketball teams, family and the community gathered at Decatur Middle School gym to meet Froderking for the first time and welcome him into the Decatur family.
On June 20, some of the Decatur Bulldog boys' junior and senior high basketball teams gathered once again in the middle school gym for the first off-season practice under the new coach. A total of 12 boys, some excused from football practice, gathered for a little light workout and to receive their practice uniform assignments.
For the next week, Froderking worked the teams through a series of timed drills. These drills were designed to see at just what skill level each player performs. He also had a chance to work with his volunteer assistant coach, Mike Eckels. Later, head girls' coach Fess Thompson joined in on one practice session. Thompson will serve as Froderking's assistant coach during games. Likewise, Froderking will serve as Thompson's assistant as well.
On Thursday and Friday, June 23-24, Froderking accompanied the Decatur Lady Bulldog junior high team to Rogers where the girls participated in the 2022 Hooping in the Heat basketball camp at Heritage High School. This was Lady Bulldog fans' first chance to see the full Decatur coaching staff in action, including assistant coach Katy Sojka, who is Thompson's volunteer coach. The junior high girls swept the camp with eight straight wins.
Froderking is a long-time resident of Northwest Arkansas, graduating from Bentonville High School. After graduation, Froderking attended the University of Arkansas, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in physical education. He is currently working on a social studies certification.
After Froderking graduated from college, he went back to his roots, working in the Bentonville basketball program before taking on his first head coaching position at Arkansas Arts Academy, where he served for the past six years.
"I coached all the teams, did all the scheduling, all the fundraising. I did everything," Froderking explained. "I started off with a seventh- and eighth-grade team and eventually organized and coached the junior high and high school boys' and girls' programs."
The Decatur boys' program will be in the off-season mode until October when the football season winds down and basketball preseason practices begin. Froderking lined up two summer camps coming up in late July. This will give Bulldog basketball fans a sneak preview of the new coach and his 2022-23 varsity and junior high basketball lineup in action.
Austin Froderking is already making a difference in the Decatur junior and senior high school basketball teams. The junior high team is beginning to experience growth, with new players joining the seventh grade ranks from the sixth grade and also with several new transfer students who want to be part of Froderkings exciting new programs.
"My coaching philosophies are to make basketball an enjoyable experience for my players," Froderking concluded. "I know that a lot of the kids play multiple sports and I want basketball to be a sport these kids want to be around."
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Coach Austin Froderking (center right) goes one-on-one with senior Deegan Brooks during the first junior and senior high basketball practice session on June 20 in the gym at Decatur Middle School. Froderking comes to the Decatur program from the Arkansas Arts Academy basketball program, where he served as head coach for the past several years.