Pea Ridge High School has named Max Hotelling as its new head football coach and Reed Smith as head coach for girls basketball, following a special school board meeting Monday.
Both Hotelling and Smith were previously assistant coaches for their respective programs. Hotelling takes over for longtime football coach Lance Tolbert, who stepped down after the 2025 season. Smith replaces Kristin Blevins, who led the Lady Pirates for six seasons before leaving to pursue other opportunities earlier this month.
Hotelling, a 2010 graduate of Pea Ridge High, returned to his alma mater in 2018 as an assistant under Tolbert. During his tenure, the Pirates compiled a 64-38 record and made four playoff appearances, including a pair of 10-win seasons. Hotelling also serves as the school’s athletic director.
“Max brings strong leadership, deep community ties, and a clear vision for Pirate football,” said Pea Ridge School District Superintendent Kirk Brady in a statement. “We’re confident he will continue building on the program’s recent success.”
Smith joined the girls basketball staff in 2022 as an assistant under Blevins. Prior to that, he coached junior high basketball in the district and worked with several youth programs throughout Benton County. His promotion comes after Blevins guided the team to a 15-9 record last season and a berth in the Class 4A regional semifinals.
“Reed understands our culture and has shown commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the court,” Brady added.
New leadership, same goals
The coaching changes come at a time of transition for Pea Ridge athletics. The district is preparing to move into the 5A classification next school year due to reclassification by the Arkansas Activities Association. That shift will place Pea Ridge among larger schools across the state in football, basketball, and other sports.
Hotelling acknowledged the challenge during Monday’s meeting, emphasizing the need to maintain competitiveness while adapting to a higher level of play. He plans to lean on input from former coaches and current staff as he builds out his approach.
“We’re not starting from scratch,” Hotelling said. “There’s a foundation here that we can continue to build on. The goal remains the same: compete for championships and prepare these kids for life after high school.”
Smith, who also teaches physical education at Pea Ridge Middle School, said he wants to keep the momentum going for the girls basketball program. He credited Blevins for laying the groundwork and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead.
“Kristin built something special here,” Smith said. “I want to honor that work and keep pushing this program forward.”
Neither coach will begin their roles with significant roster turnover. Many key players from last year’s teams are expected to return, including quarterback Cade Johnson for football and guard Jada Williams for girls basketball.
Spring practice for football is scheduled to begin in early June, while the girls basketball team will start conditioning in July ahead of the November season.
For more information about Pea Ridge athletics, visit the school district website or contact the activities office directly.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
