To say it’s been a busy summer for Lavaca Golden Arrows Head Coach Mark Headley would be an understatement. But that’s not a bad thing. After hanging up his football coaches hat after the 2014 season, Coach Headley is taking back his spot at the top of the tower.
Mark Headley moved to Lavaca in 1989 from Fort Smith, Ar and after graduating from LHS in 1992, Headley packed his stuff and headed off to college at Arkansas Tech University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education and in 1997, Coach Headley landed his first coaching position at his alma mater.
“Coaching was not on my radar growing up,” says Coach Headley. “My dad was a pharmacist and at one time I felt like I might follow in his footsteps but as I got into high school, I fell in love with athletics and being a part of a team and that got me thinking about a coaching career.”
Although many coaches and teachers inspired Headley to go on and do something amazing with his life, it was his senior high football coach, Coach Vitale, who influenced Coach Headley the most. “He showed up every day and was enthusiastic and loved kids.”
Mark Headley stepped down as head football coach for the Arrows after 13 incredible seasons. Between 2002-2014, Coach Headley walked away with an extraordinary 84-60 football record. For the last four seasons, the Golden Arrows were headed by Coach Brian Schlinker who after the 2018 football season, left for Van Buren with an 18-24 overall Lavaca football record. Last year, the Arrows finished their season with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-3 conference record.
Now, back in the driver’s seat with the support from the love of his life and partner in crime for the last 24 years, wife Dasha, and their two children, son Hayden-22 and daughter Hope-18, Coach Headley is ready to shoot his Golden Arrows into victory. “My expectations are the same every year. We want to teach players to be quality young men and to learn accountability and discipline. We also want to get better each week and have the opportunity to compete at the end of the year.”
Nowadays, as times have changed over the years, kids are being pulled in many different directions. “It’s harder to get players committed and accountable to a team,” says Coach Headley. But one thing that hasn’t changed in Lavaca over the years, are the hard-working and spirited coaches, teachers, and student-athletes who show up year after year all with the same goal in mind. To continue to support and grow their small-time community, into the same greatness as the big-time schools that overshadow them.
This 2019 season, the Golden Arrows will be returning three offensive starters and three defensive starters. According to Coach Headley, he has four seniors to keep your eye on. Quarterback, Kaw-Liga Brewer, Offensive and Defensive Lineman, Zach Gann, Offensive and Defensive Lineman, Skyler Barger, and Offensive Lineman and Linebacker, Jacob Smith.
“In order to have success, we have to create a culture of young men who do the little things right and focus on not only football but on living their lives with high standards and high expectations,” expresses Coach Headley. This season, 2A-4 Lavaca will face-off with Hector, Mountainburg, Magazine, Hackett, Westside, and Western Yell County, for conference supremacy. The Golden Arrows will scrimmage Lincoln, August 20 at Lincoln. The first game of the season will be at home on August 30 at 7 p.m. when the Arrows wage war on the Mountainburg Dragons.
