MANSFIELD (KFSM) – The time had come for Craig Bentley to try his hand at being a head football coach. It just happened to be the right situation when the Mansfield position came open late in June.
Bentley was named the Tigers new head coach and takes over a program that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2011 and won just six games in the past two seasons. Bentley spent the past five seasons at Mena as defensive coordinator and got an up close view at his new school over the past few seasons.
“We played them the last five years and I always admired the type of kids they had, the way they played and the type of support for the team they got from the community,” Bentley said. “It came open and happened to be the perfect fit at the right time.”
Bentley, a 2003 Mena graduate, also coached at Springdale for two seasons as well as a season at Pea Ridge before joining the Bearcats’ staff in 2011.
“I had heard through the coaching community that it had come open so I did a little research and sent an email,” Bentley said. “They called me in for an interview and then a second one. It’s kind of been a whirlwind but I’m excited to get it going.
Mansfield opens the 2016 against Scott Co. rival Waldron on Sept. 2.