DE QUEEN, Ark.-Stephen Sloan isn't leaving the coaching profession for psychiatry, but he could make a case for it.
De Queen's first-year head coach is not new to the community, or the Leopards' football team. Sloan believes he has a handle on why the Leopards haven't had a winning season in five years.
"We can improve, but the biggest thing we're trying to change is the whole mindset," Sloan said. "We've got to get the kids to believe they're going to win and have higher expectations for themselves and the whole team. We're pushing hard to play as a team, work hard as a team, just change the whole mindset from top to bottom."
Sloan and his staff started last spring by walking the halls and recruiting new bodies. The fact he has been successful coaching De Queen's soccer team made that challenge easier.
"Right now we have 52 kids, which is up about eighteen from last year," Sloan said. "Kids here love to play soccer, and I think it's a good way to build unity between the two programs by getting the kids to be involved in both sports. We got a good response. We didn't get all the kids we wanted, but we're pleased with the ones we have. It's going to help us in the future. It'll help us this year with some depth."
Playing in 5A the Leopards have been consistently outmanned by teams had numbers of their side and didn't have to use players on both sides of the ball. De Queen hasn't been as fortunate, and Sloan admits he'll have a few going both ways this season.
The Leopards have strengths on offense and defense according to Sloan.
"We've got a good group of linebackers (Rolando Sotelo, 5-10, 185; Adrian Mendoza, 5-11, 245; and Hunter Earney, 5-6, 170)," he said. "Sotelo was our leading tackler last season. He really has a nose for the football."
Both Earney and Mendoza will see double duty, with Earney playing tailback and Mendoza at fullback.
"Mendoza is a kid that's always trying to better himself; sometimes we have to run him out of the weightroom," Sloan said. "Earney is the type of kid we could put at any position and he'd do well."
Sloan's staff likes what they see up front with the return of tackle Jace Sims (6-0, 280), tackle Carter Faulkenberry (6-2, 225) and guard Quinton Thorton (6-2, 280). They're all returning starters.
Sophomore Isaiah Williamson (5-10, 160) and junior Mack Carver (5-11, 160) are the candidates at quarterback. Williamson did see limited action at the end of last season, throwing two touchdown passes against White Hall.
Sedrick Bell (5-10, 170), junior Hayden Harp (6-2, 170), senior Benjamin Castaneda (5-8, 175) and sophomore Dailey Nickerson (6-1, 160) are prospects at receiver.
Defensively speaking, the Leopards' front seven could be stout. Not only is De Queen strong at linebacker, but also impressive up front with the likes of senior end Jason Tellez (5-10, 230). Senior Spencer Bowens (6-0, 215) is back at the other end.
There's question marks in the secondary, but Bell is not one of them.
"Bell will be big-time for us at safety or corner," Sloan said. "He's played a lot of ball the last two years. There's so many kids I could talk about who have improved so much since last year. Thhis is really a good group.
There has been more than one coaching move with the promotion of Sloan, who hired Jon Amerson away from Sheridan to be his defensive coordinator.
The offensive coordinator is Jonathan Lindsey, with Beau McCastlain, Richard Bell and Joseph Parsons rounding out the staff.
There are individuals predicting De Queen will finish near or at the bottom of the 5A-South standings, but Sloan is hoping his squad surprises some people.
"Our ability to do it is just going out there and doing it as a team and fight," he said. "The thing is believing we can, and push to be the best that we can be."
QUICK FACTS
SCHOOL: De Queen
2016 RECORD: 3-7
HEAD COACH: Stephen Sloan
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 17 (1st as head coach)
COACHING STAFF: Jon Amerson, DC; Jonathan Lindsey, OC; Beau McCastlain, RB; Richard Bell, LB; Joeseph Parsons, L
LETTERMEN LOST/BACK: 8/22
STARTERS BACK: 4 offense, 8 defense
PLAYERS TO WATCH: TB/LB Hunter Earney, FB/LB Adrian Mendoza, T Jace Sims, LB Rolando Sotelo, CB Sedrick Bell, DE Spencer Bowens, DE Jason Tellez
TOP NEWCOMERS: RB/S Marquez Ester, QB/WR Isaiah Williamson, FB/LB Kade Martin, CB Chase Pearce, K Honorio Dominguez