Sports

Longtime AAA executive announces retirement

Published

4 months ago

February 18, 2025

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Dr. Joey Walters, a dedicated advocate for education-based athletics in Arkansas for the past two decades, has announced his retirement, set to take effect on June 30, 2025.

Walters has worn many hats during his tenure at the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), serving as Executive Deputy Director. His responsibilities have included acting as the liaison for basketball, golf, tennis, and golf, as well as overseeing the Arkansas High School Coaches Association and leading the sports medicine division.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Executive Deputy Director of the Arkansas Activities Association,” Walters said. “Working with Executive Director Lance Taylor and the AAA staff, as well as so many talented teachers, coaches, athletic directors, and administrators, has been an incredibly rewarding journey.”

Walters joined the AAA in 2006, and in addition to his role in specific sports, he has overseen eligibility interpretations, superintendent and principal meetings, legislative relations, and directed both the AHSCA All-Star Games and AHSCA Coaches Clinic.

“Dr. Walters’s contributions and efforts to our member schools here at the Arkansas Activities Association have been vast,” said AAA Executive Director Lance Taylor. “Joey did so much for this organization and for this state. His hard work and dedication will be difficult to replace, which is an indication of the significant impact he made during his two decades here.”

Beyond his work with the AAA, Walters has also been an active contributor to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). He has served on multiple committees, including the Soccer Rules Committee, Sports Medicine Committee, Coach of the Year Committee, and the Coaching Today Committee. His dedication was recognized in 2019 when he received one of the NFHS’s highest honors, the Citation Award.

“The member schools of the AAA are made up of so many great people who have the passion and commitment to educational-based athletics and activities,” Walters said. “I am thankful for the lessons learned, the friendships formed, and will forever appreciate the support and camaraderie.”

Before his tenure at the AAA, Walters spent 15 years at West Fork Public Schools, serving in multiple roles, including coach, athletic director, principal, and superintendent.

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Sports

Hogs Are Omaha Bound After Victory Over Tennessee

Published

19 hours ago

June 9, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The OmaHogs are back!

Arkansas (48-13) is headed back to Omaha for the 12th time in program history after an 11-4 victory over Tennessee (46-19) in game two of the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional.

The Hogs jumped to an early lead in the top of the third inning after a two-run blast from Charles Davalan (2-for-2, 2 RBI) got the offense started. The Volunteers, however, quickly responded by putting one across in the bottom half of the inning.

Cam Kozeal scored on a wild pitch and Logan Maxwell (3-for-5, 4 RBI) swatted his first career grand slam in the fourth to open the floodgates for the Razorbacks, who pushed their lead to 7-1. It was all the Hogs would need.

Cole Gibler entered in relief in the bottom of the fourth after Gage Wood started and tossed 3.1 innings of one-run ball. Gibler, the true freshman, cruised through 2.2 innings of work, striking out four and sitting down 8-of-10 batters faced on 45 pitches to earn his third win of the season.

The Razorback offense continued to add to their lead in the top of the seventh, scoring three more runs thanks to Kuhio Aloy’s RBI single and a pair of bases-loaded walks. Brent Iredale (1-for-4, HR, RBI) landed the final punch, belting a solo shot in the top of the ninth inning.

Aidan Jimenez (1.0 IP, 1 R, 1 SO), Parker Coil (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Christian Foutch (1.0 IP, 2 R, 3 SO) closed out the 11-4 win to send Arkansas back to the College for the eighth time in the Dave Van Horn era.

The Razorbacks finished the season with a 37-4 record inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium. The wins and .902 win percentage are both single-season program records.

Sports

Hogs Punch Ticket To Super Regionals

Published

1 week ago

June 2, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas (46-13) secured its spot in the NCAA Super Regionals with a dominant 8-3 win over Creighton (43-16) Sunday night at Baum-Walker Stadium. With the victory, the Hogs set a program record with their 35th home win of the season and will host next weekend’s super regional against either Tennessee or Wake Forest.

The appearance marks Arkansas’ 11th super regional in program history and sixth time hosting, including four since 2018. With top seeds Vanderbilt and Texas eliminated, No. 3 Arkansas is now the highest remaining seed in the tournament.

Pitching stole the spotlight as Gage Wood and Gabe Gaeckle combined for 20 strikeouts. Wood struck out a career-high 13 over six innings, while Gaeckle fanned seven in three scoreless innings to close it out.

The Razorback bats backed up the pitching with four home runs. Logan Maxwell launched two—including a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fifth—while Justin Thomas Jr. hit a three-run blast and Ryder Helfrick added a solo homer. Charles Davalan capped the scoring with an RBI triple in the sixth.

Creighton’s only offense came via a three-run homer in the fourth, but Arkansas never relinquished its lead.

Maxwell led the offense with a three-RBI night and raised his season average to .346. Helfrick, who hit his third homer in two days, was named MVP of the Fayetteville Regional.

Sports

Hogs set to host Fayetteville regional

Published

2 weeks ago

May 27, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas has earned its 36th NCAA Tournament berth and will host the Fayetteville Regional as the No. 3 national seed.

The Razorbacks (43-13) will play No. 4 seed North Dakota State (20-31) in the opening game at 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, at Baum-Walker Stadium, airing on ESPN+. The regional also features No. 2 seed Kansas (43-15) and No. 3 seed Creighton (41-14), who will face off at 7 p.m.

Arkansas is hosting a regional for the 12th time in program history and the seventh time in the last eight full seasons. Should they advance, the Hogs would maintain home-field advantage through the super regional round, which they would host for the sixth time overall.

The Razorbacks boast a 32-4 record at Baum-Walker this season, just two wins shy of tying the single-season home record of 34.

The winner of the Fayetteville Regional will meet the winner of the Knoxville Regional, where No. 14 seed Tennessee hosts Wake Forest, Cincinnati, and Miami (OH), in the super regionals from June 6-9.

A record 13 SEC teams qualified for this year’s tournament: Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, and Vanderbilt. That breaks the previous record of 11 SEC teams, set last year. Eight SEC schools, including Arkansas, are hosting regionals.

Fayetteville Regional Schedule:

Friday, May 30
Game 1 – Arkansas vs. NDSU – 2 p.m.
Game 2 – Kansas vs. Creighton – 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 31
Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser – 2 p.m.
Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 1
Game 5 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser – 2 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 8 p.m.

Monday, June 2 (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Time TBD

Sports

SouthArk Announces New Men’s Basketball Coach

Published

3 weeks ago

May 22, 2025

Staff Reports

EL DORADO — South Arkansas College has named Eric Collins of Augusta, Maine, as the next head coach of its men’s basketball team. Collins, a U.S. Army veteran and experienced coach, will become the third head coach in the program’s history, succeeding Cam Robinson, who held the position for three seasons.

Collins currently serves as the associate head coach at the University of Maine-Augusta, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). He brings more than five years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels in the Northeast.

A Maine native, Collins describes his coaching philosophy as rooted in four pillars: passion, leadership, culture, and accountability.

“I coach to build men—not just players,” Collins said. “My mission is to lead through relationships, set a shared standard of excellence, and create a culture where young men grow—as athletes, students, and people. My family and I are pumped to become part of the SouthArk and El Dorado communities.”

SouthArk Athletic Director Jenny Sanders expressed excitement over Collins’ hiring, noting his energy and commitment to student development.

“Coach Eric Collins brings immense passion and excitement to the campus and to the basketball court,” Sanders said. “I am excited to see the lasting impact he will have on the young men he coaches, on our campus, and within our community.”

Collins, along with his wife Brandi and their children, will officially relocate to El Dorado ahead of his full-time start date on July 1. In the meantime, he is actively recruiting to fill out the Star Force roster for the upcoming season.

Sports

Legendary Arkansas Coach Passes Away Saturday

Published

1 month ago

May 4, 2025

Staff Reports

Harold Horton

FAYETTEVILLE – Harold Horton, a revered figure in Arkansas football history, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. His family confirmed his passing through social media.

Born in DeWitt, Arkansas, Horton played as a defensive back for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1959 to 1961 under legendary coach Frank Broyles. During his playing career, the Razorbacks secured or shared the Southwest Conference (SWC) championship each season and won the 1960 Gator Bowl.

After a brief stint coaching high school football, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1968 as an assistant coach. Over the next 13 years, he served under Broyles and later Lou Holtz, helping to shape some of the Razorbacks’ most formidable defensive units.

In 1982, Horton became head coach at the University of Central Arkansas, where he compiled a remarkable 74–12–5 record over eight seasons. Under his leadership, UCA won back-to-back NAIA Division I national championships in 1984 and 1985 and captured seven consecutive Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles from 1983 to 1989.

University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Head Coach Nathan Brown paid tribute to Horton, stating, “Prayers for the Coach Harold Horton family today. Coach Horton was one of the great coaches in UCA Football history. Him and his staffs brought championships and pride to the Bear program. Thanks for always supporting and rooting for me and the Bears over the years.”

Following his coaching career, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1990 to work in football operations. He later served as president of the Razorback Foundation from 2001 to 2012, playing a key role in fundraising and athletic development initiatives. His devotion to the Razorbacks spanned nearly four decades.

Horton’s legacy lives on through his family, including his son, Tim Horton, a former Razorbacks wide receiver who went on to a successful college coaching career of his own.