FARMINGTON, Arkansas — Nine years into retirement, legendary Arkansas High School Football Coach Tommy Tice is back and ready to grow his legacy, this time for the Farmington Cardinals. But why now?
"First thing I thought, you know, have you lost your mind? You know, is this going to make the two of us lose our minds?” Tice said.
It all started when Farmington Athletic Director Beau Thompson picked up the phone and made a call that would later pull Tice out of retirement and back onto the field.
“When Beau called it was a shock. I mean I had always thought that I would get back in it, but I never thought it would be at Farmington," Tice said.
As for what an already successful Cardinals program is getting in Coach Tice, 42 years of high school football experience in which he has coached in more games than any coach in Arkansas high school history.
"When you coach 453 ball games as a head coach, you've seen a lot, a lot of football," Tice explained.
Tice's impressive resume includes 13 years at Huntsville, 29 at Harrison, coaching All-American Razorback Brandon Burlsworth, and winning a state championship in 1999.
In his time coaching, he's seen a lot of evolution in the game.
"Of course, you've seen a lot of changes. But the main thing is, I think that you'll be able to adjust maybe a little bit better because you have that experience," Tice said.
That experience has helped land him third on the all-time Arkansas high school football win list and looking for more with the defending 5A West champions, one game at a time.
"Got my sights set on the next victory. You know, I don't have a number that I want to reach. You know, I'm like anybody, any other coach, I want to win every game. I have great expectations every year. I mean, the first expectation is to win the conference championship. That's got to be your first one," Tice said.
Other coaches from around the area are excited to have the all-time great here in Northwest Arkansas.
“You know, everybody knows about him and his history and what he's done and meant to high school football. And you know, it's an honor to get to know him right now, throughout the course of the summer and what he's done," said Gravette Head Coach Kelby Bohannon.
“You know, to be his age and come back out here with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. You know, it helps young coaches realize that we can do this for a long time and still be effective doing it," Elkins Head Coach Zach Watson added.
Tice says he can’t wait to get back on that field in August after nine seasons away.
“I’m really excited. This has been great for me. My energy level is as high as it's ever been, and I'm really excited to get there.” Tice said.
Coach Tice will take the field for the first time as the Farmington Head Coach on August 30 on the road against Shiloh Christian.
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