Ex-Hog to coach at Rogers
Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/rhtn/Sports/4044/
Former Arkansas Razorback Jeb Huckeba and Rogers head coach Ronnie Peacock go back a long way.
Back to when Huckeba was in elementary school and attended the same church as Peacock when Peacock was on the coaching staff at Harding University in Searcy.
Huckeba’s grown up a lot since then, becoming a football standout at Harding Academy, an All-Conference defensive standout for the Arkansas Razorbacks and even tasting the life of the NFL.
Now Huckeba is headed to the high school coaching ranks. He was recommended for hire as a defensive football coach at Rogers High School, Peacock said June 4.
“ I can’t wait, ” Huckeba said. “ I just feel like it’s a great opportunity to be a part of one of the best schools in the state. I’m super pumped. I feel like there’s some great people I’m going to get to coach with and teach with. It’s just an awesome opportunity. ”
The move is pending approval by the Rogers School Board at its June 17 meeting.
Huckeba played outside linebacker and defensive end for the Razorbacks from 2001-04 and earned All-SEC honors as a senior.
The Parade All-American from Harding Academy in Searcy was a fifth-round NFL draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2005. He spent his entire rookie season on the injured reserve as Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl.
After being released by the Seahawks in December 2006, Huckeba had tryouts with the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders and twice with the Miami Dolphins before deciding that his future wasn’t in the pro game.
Huckeba, a business major at Arkansas, landed a job at Arvest Bank in Rogers but he still wanted to stay in the game in some way. Being a coach’s son, he felt getting into teaching and coaching was right up his alley.
“ I just feel like this is an opportunity to impact young men’s lives and coach them and teach them life lessons and enjoy football, ” said Huckeba, whose father Ronnie Huckeba is now the head coach at Harding University.
“ When I found out (Jeb Huckeba ) was interested, I was immediately interested, ” said Peacock. “ I’m glad it worked out for him and for us. He’s very knowledgeable. I think he’ll do a good job. ”
Huckeba would be the fifth new coach hired by the Mounties after the team lost four coaches from its varsity staff to Heritage.
Larry Ben (defensive line ), Kent McCullough (defense and special teams ), Steve Hampton (offensive backs ) and Alan Rettmann (ninth grade ) were added to the RHS varsity staff prior to spring practice.
“ I think we’ve got a real good mix of coaches that are young and coaches that have been around a while, ” Peacock said. “ I think this is going to be a real good staff. I’m really proud that things have worked out. ” Rogers is still in the process of hiring an assistant ninthgrade coach for the Mounties and an assistant eighth-grade coach at Elmwood Middle School.
• • • Huckeba wouldn’t be the only member of his family joining the school district this summer. Jordan Huckeba has been selected to fill an assistant coaching spot at Lingle Middle School, Rogers Heritage head football coach Perry Escalante said. Jordan Huckeba, also a standout at Harding Academy, recently completed his senior year at Harding University.
• • • Escalante also announced that Greenland assistant coach Hal Qualls will be joining the War Eagles ’ coaching staff as ninth-grade defensive coordinator. Qualls is a former offensive coordinator at Watson Chapel and has also been an administrator. The selections of Qualls and Jordan Huckeba would complete the football staffs for Heritage and its two feeder middle schools — Oakdale and Lingle. Both spots are also awaiting board approval. The War Eagles will add a 10 th coach to their varsity staff next season when the school has its first senior class. Only juniors and sophomores will attend Heritage for the 2008-09 school year.