Carmikle Leaving Rison To Coach At Heber Springs

RISON - A little more than a year after he was hired, Rison High School head football coach Caleb Carmikle is stepping down to become head coach at his alma mater, Heber Springs High School.Carmikle said he informed the team Monday afternoon of his intentions to become the new head coach of the Panthers. Heber Springs' previous head coach, Van Paschal, left after one year there to become the head coach at Cross County."I think some of them were upset, but I hope they understand," Carmikle said about the reaction from the players.Carmikle said he will remain with the Rison program through March 31 before officially beginning his new duties at Heber Springs on April 1.Carmikle was hired in February 2023 to succeed Clay Totty, who had directed the Wildcats to two state championships over his 25-year career at Rison. Carmikle had been coach at Magnet Cove for six seasons prior to be becoming the head Wildcat.Rison finished 3-8 under Carmikle this past season but did earn a playoff berth, falling in the first round to Jessieville, 40-27. Heber Springs was 6-4 this past season.A 2011 graduate of Heber Springs, Carmikle said it was the the only job he would leave Rison for. He said the opportunity to be near his mother and family as well as coach at his alma mater was something he could not pass up.Carmikle said he felt good about the future of the Wildcat football program. He said they were having a good off-season, and he was excited about the potential of a good nucleus of returning player mixing with some talented newcomers moving up from the junior high team as well as some who were returning to the program after taking the past couple of years off. He said he expects whoever takes over the reigns will field a solid team next year.Rison football historian Stan Sadler said Carmikle is the fifth head coach since 1946 (post-World War II era) to leave the Wildcat football program after one year.Rison High S...