Ronnie Huckeba named head football coach at Harding University
October 15, 2007
By Scott Goode
Harding SID
SEARCY – Ronnie Huckeba was named the head football coach at Harding University on Monday. Huckeba had served as the team's interim head coach for the last four games following the resignation of former coach Randy Tribble on Sept. 11.
"We are very fortunate to have someone like Ronnie Huckeba at Harding University who is willing to accept the responsibilities of the head coach," said athletic director Greg Harnden. "I've known Coach Huckeba for a long time, and it is encouraging and satisfying to see the way he has taken over the program. He has given it the direction and leadership we need at this time, and we have all the confidence in the world that he is the man for the job."
Huckeba, 52, directed the Bisons to a 2-2 record, including wins in its last two games, as the interim head coach. He is in his 22 nd season on the Harding coaching staff and began the 2007 season as the offensive coordinator. From 1994-2004, Huckeba was the team's defensive coordinator. He also served as defensive front-seven coach from 1988-1993 and secondary coach from 1986-87.
Huckeba was a tight end and defensive end at Claxton (GA) High School from 1969-72 before lettering four seasons as an offensive lineman for the Bisons from 1973-76.
A 1978 Harding alumnus, Huckeba joined the Harding coaching staff after spending five seasons as co-head coach with Adrian Hickmon at Ouachita Christian School, where he was named the Louisiana Class A Coach of the Year after leading OCS to a 15-0 record and a state championship. Huckeba began his coaching career as an assistant at Carlisle High School and at Fort Worth (Texas) Christian.
Harding has four games remaining on its 2007 schedule, beginning with road games at Southern Arkansas (Saturday) and Henderson State (Oct. 27). The Bisons conclude the season with home games against Arkansas Tech (Nov. 3) and Ouachita Baptist (Nov. 10).
After the announcement of Huckeba's promotion, he released the following statement:
"It is an honor to be named head football coach at Harding University. It is a dream job because of the type of university this is. Harding is so unique. The football program at this university also has the opportunity to be unique. I am so appreciative to Dr. Burks and to Coach Harnden for the confidence they have shown in me. I intend to do everything in my power to justify their confidence. That has more to do with the direction of this program than anything else. This is a Christ-centered university, and my goal is to make this a Christ-centered football program. In the process, I believe that if we do the things that would allow us to exhibit the characteristics of Jesus Christ, then we will be successful. At the same time, we are in an extremely competitive conference in Division II. From top to bottom, it is the toughest Division II conference in America. It is always a challenge to compete at the top levels of the Gulf South Conference. But we have every intention of being competitive in this conference.
"As far as the present is concerned, our focus is the same as it was four weeks ago when I was named the interim head coach. That is to focus on these young men that are on this football team. I am going to do my best to give them the opportunity to win on Saturday and to do my best to help them learn the things from this game that will make them better men, better husbands, better dads. There are so many things we have experienced this season that will help them deal with things that I know that they will face later on in their lives. Foremost, I hope that being a part of the Harding football program will help our players grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. If we don't accomplish some of these other things, but we accomplish that, then we will have had a successful season."