By Matt L. Stephens
Posted: June 1, 2011 at 5:48 a.m.
STAFF PHOTO Sarah Bentham
Springdale High's new girls basketball coach, Heather Hunsucker, middle, smiles following a news
conference introducing her to the school on Tuesday in Springdale.
SPRINGDALE — The Lady Bulldogs of Springdale High haven't had a tremendous amount of success on the basketball court over the past six seasons.
If Tuesday's news conference was any indication, though, the future may be a bright one.
Heather Hunsucker was officially introduced as the Lady Red'Dogs new basketball coach by Principal Peter Joenks, a hire that seems to have just about everyone at Springdale excited.
"We really needed this. We have a lot of leadership on our team and a lot of talent, but we really need that head figure to bring it all together and I think coach Hunsucker is going to do the job for us," said Sarah Ussery, a rising senior guard for Springdale. "From talking to her, I know she has that passion and excitement for basketball and will get us where we need to go."
This will be the first head coaching position for Hunsucker, 30, who served as an assistant under Bobby Smith at Fayetteville, where she helped lead the Lady Purple'Dogs to state titles in 2009 and this year.
Not only does Hunsucker have championship experience as a coach, but also as a player. As a senior at Fort Smith Northside in 1999, she led the Lady Grizzilies to the school's first state championship in girls basketball. She hopes to use her championship background to bring a winning tradition to Springdale.
"I'm going to steal a line from Mike Anderson, but I learned from the best," Hunsucker said, referring to her history as an assistant under Smith. "Coach Smith has taught me a lot about life and a lot about the game of basketball."
Hunsucker called the 7A-West Conference a tough one, but she plans on making her team just as physical as others. She said that the oft ensive style Springdale will play will consist of spreading the court with a lot of ball movement, and on defense the Lady'Dogs will be physical and "in your face," with man-toman matchups that'll extend to the full court.
"If I didn't think I could do this job or wanted this job, I wouldn't have filled out the application, "Hunsucker said. "I think this can be a good team, I really do, with skill development and a great coaching staff and having everyone buy into what I want to do."
Player development will begin immediately for Springdale, Hunsucker said, as the Lady Red'Dogs won't take any time oft in preparation for the 2011-12 season, where they'll try to make the Class 7A State Tournament for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign.
Sports, Pages 10 on 06/01/2011