Tony Travis has resigned as head football coach at Pea Ridge High School, the school announced Thursday — less than a week before the academic year ends and just weeks before the state-mandated dead period for high school athletics begins.
Travis, who returned to lead the Blackhawks for the 2025 season, will depart after one year at the helm. His resignation comes as the team was wrapping up spring drills, with the next head coach stepping into a compressed timeline ahead of the 2026 season.
Pea Ridge finished last fall with a 1-9 record, including a 1-6 mark in 5A-West Conference play. The team’s struggles on the field mirrored those of recent seasons, despite Travis’s previous tenure at the school from 2009 to 2015, during which he compiled a 39-38 record.
Travis was named Arkansas Farm Bureau Coach of the Year in 2023 while at Pea Ridge, but declined to comment on his decision to step down. His departure leaves the school scrambling to fill the position before the June 15 dead period, which restricts contact between coaches and student-athletes.
“The timing — it is what it is,” said Pea Ridge Athletic Director Kev
The Blackhawks are coming off a rebuilding season that saw limited success on the field but continued investment in program infrastructure. Travis had previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator before taking over as head coach in 2022.
Pea Ridge School District has already posted the coaching vacancy and plans to begin interviews immediately. The position carries responsibility for both varsity football operations and oversight of junior high teams, according to the job listing.
While no specific candidates have been named, the district is expected to prioritize local ties and experience within Arkansas high school football. The new coach will inherit a roster heavy with underclassmen and a program seeking to rebuild its competitive edge in 5A-West, one of the state’s more challenging conferences.
The timing of Travis’s resignation also complicates offseason planning. With only a few weeks until the dead period begins, recruiting and player development efforts may be impacted. Preseason practice is scheduled to begin in late July, giving the next coach just over two months to implement a system and prepare for the opener against Gentry on Aug. 21.
Community reaction has been mixed, with some supporters citing Travis’s prior success and others pointing to the need for fresh leadership. Athletic director Kev
Travis’s coaching career includes stops at multiple Arkansas high schools, including stints at Farmington and Greenland, before returning to Pea Ridge. He also served as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas Razorbacks under Bret Bielema from 2013 to 2017, focusing on defensive line development.
For now, the focus turns to the search process. Pea Ridge administrators are reviewing applications and plan to conduct initial interviews next week. A decision is expected by early June, though the district has not ruled out extending the search into the summer if needed.
The new coach will inherit a program with modest facilities but strong community backing. Pea Ridge booster clubs have consistently supported equipment upgrades and team travel, even during lean seasons. The school’s track and field teams, among others, have seen recent success, suggesting broader athletic momentum could carry over with the right leadership in football.
As the Blackhawks prepare for their 2026 campaign, many eyes will be on how quickly the district can secure a permanent replacement — and whether that person can stabilize a program still searching for its footing after several challenging years.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
