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Kenneth Gene Stephens (April 2, 1931 – August 28, 2023) was an American football coach.[1] He served as head coach the University of Central Arkansas from 1972 to 1981 Lamar University from 1982 to 1985, and Arkansas Tech University from 1986 to 1992, compiling a career college football coaching record of 106–106–8.[2]
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 2, 1931 Conway, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | August 28, 2023 (aged 92) Conway, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1949–1951 | Arkansas State Teachers |
| Track and field | |
| c. 1950 | Arkansas State Teachers |
| Position(s) | Defensive back (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1952 | Crossett HS (AR) (assistant) |
| 1953 | Bethany HS (OK) |
| 1956–1957 | Walnut Ridge HS (AR) |
| 1958–1959 | Conway HS (AR) |
| 1960 | Arkansas State (assistant) |
| 1962 | Morrilton HS (AR) |
| 1963–1970 | North Little Rock HS (AR) |
| 1971 | Arkansas (assistant) |
| 1972–1981 | State College of Arkansas / Central Arkansas |
| 1982–1985 | Lamar |
| 1986–1992 | Arkansas Tech |
| 2001–2004 | Ranger |
| Golf | |
| 2000 | Central Arkansas |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 106–106–8 (college football) |
| Tournaments | Football 1–4 (NAIA D-I playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Football 4 AIC (1976, 1978, 1980–1981) | |
Stephens was a graduate of Central Arkansas, where he played as a defensive back and still holds the record for interceptions in a game with five. Stephens also competed in track and field, where he was the NAIA runner-up in the 120-yard hurdles in 1951 and 1952.[3] He began his coaching career at the high school level, winning three state championships at North Little Rock, Arkansas, before moving on the Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas as an assistant. He was appointed head coach at his alma mater in 1972. In 10 seasons, Stephens built a 67–35–6 record at Central Arkansas, third-best in school history only to his two successors, winning four Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles and taking the Bears to four NAIA playoffs, the first in school history.
In 1982, Stephens went on to coach at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, but resigned in 1985 after four consecutive losing seasons.[4] He then became head coach at Arkansas Tech, spending seven seasons there before retiring in 1992. Stephens returned to coaching in 2001, taking over as head coach at Ranger College in Ranger, Texas, for four seasons.
On February 28, 2014, Stephens was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.[5]
Stephens died in Conway on August 28, 2023, at the age of 92.[6]
Head coaching record edit
College football edit
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College of Arkansas / Central Arkansas Bears (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) (1972–1981) | |||||||||
| 1972 | State College of Arkansas | 2–7–1 | 0–5–1 | 7th | |||||
| 1973 | State College of Arkansas | 6–5 | 3–3 | 4th | |||||
| 1974 | State College of Arkansas | 6–3–2 | 2–2–2 | T–4th | |||||
| 1975 | Central Arkansas | 4–6–1 | 3–2–1 | 4th | |||||
| 1976 | Central Arkansas | 9–3 | 5–1 | T–1st | L NAIA Division I Championship | ||||
| 1977 | Central Arkansas | 7–3 | 4–2 | 2nd | |||||
| 1978 | Central Arkansas | 9–2 | 6–0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal | ||||
| 1979 | Central Arkansas | 7–2–2 | 2–2–2 | 4th | |||||
| 1980 | Central Arkansas | 9–1 | 6–0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal | ||||
| 1981 | Central Arkansas | 8–3 | 6–0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal | ||||
| State College of Arkansas / Central Arkansas: | 67–35–6 | 37–17–6 | |||||||
| Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (1982–1985) | |||||||||
| 1982 | Lamar | 4–7 | 1–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 1983 | Lamar | 2–9 | 1–5 | 7th | |||||
| 1984 | Lamar | 2–9 | 1–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1985 | Lamar | 3–8 | 0–6 | 7th | |||||
| Lamar: | 11–33 | 3–20 | |||||||
| Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) (1986–1992) | |||||||||
| 1986 | Arkansas Tech | 6–4 | 5–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1987 | Arkansas Tech | 2–6–1 | 1–4–1 | 7th | |||||
| 1988 | Arkansas Tech | 6–4 | 3–3 | 3rd | |||||
| 1989 | Arkansas Tech | 6–3 | 3–3 | 4th | |||||
| 1990 | Arkansas Tech | 4–6 | 0–6 | 7th | |||||
| 1991 | Arkansas Tech | 0–10 | 0–6 | 7th | |||||
| 1992 | Arkansas Tech | 4–5–1 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| Arkansas Tech: | 28–38–2 | 14–28–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 106–106–8 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References edit
- ^ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas".
- ^ Arkansas Bears to invade Indian country
- ^ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ Lamar re-institutes football with great energy
- ^ "Former UCA, Tech coach inducted into Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame". 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Kenneth Gene Stephens". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.