Ken Stephens

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Ken Stephens
Biographical details
Born(1931-04-02)April 2, 1931
Conway, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedAugust 28, 2023(2023-08-28) (aged 92)
Conway, Arkansas, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1949–1951Arkansas State Teachers
Track and field
c. 1950Arkansas State Teachers
PositionDefensive back (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1952Crossett HS (AR) (assistant)
1953Bethany HS (OK)
1956–1957Walnut Ridge HS (AR)
1958–1959Conway HS (AR)
1960Arkansas State (assistant)
1962Morrilton HS (AR)
1963–1970North Little Rock HS (AR)
1971Arkansas (assistant)
1972–1981State College of Arkansas / Central Arkansas
1982–1985Lamar
1986–1992Arkansas Tech
2001–2004Ranger
Golf
2000Central Arkansas
Head coaching record
Overall106–106–8 (college football)
15–25 (junior college football)
TournamentsFootball
1–4 (NAIA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
4 AIC (1976, 1978, 1980–1981)
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Kenneth Gene Stephens (April 2, 1931 – August 28, 2023) was an American football coach.[1] He served as head coach of the University of Central Arkansas from 1972 to 1981 Lamar University from 1982 to 1985, and Arkansas Tech University from 1986 to 1992, compiling a career college football coaching record of 106–106–8.[2]

Stephens was a graduate of Central Arkansas, where he played as a defensive back and still holds the record for interceptions in a game with five. Stephens also competed in track and field, where he was the NAIA runner-up in the 120-yard hurdles in 1951 and 1952.[3] He began his coaching career at the high school level, winning three state championships at North Little Rock, Arkansas, before moving on the Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas as an assistant. He was appointed head coach at his alma mater in 1972. In 10 seasons, Stephens built a 67–35–6 record at Central Arkansas, third-best in school history only to his two successors, winning four Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles and taking the Bears to four NAIA playoffs, the first in school history.

In 1982, Stephens went on to coach at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, but resigned in 1985 after four consecutive losing seasons.[4] He then became head coach at Arkansas Tech, spending seven seasons there before retiring in 1992. Stephens returned to coaching in 2001, taking over as head coach at Ranger College in Ranger, Texas, for four seasons.

On February 28, 2014, Stephens was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.[5]

Stephens died in Conway on August 28, 2023, at the age of 92.[6]

Head coaching record

[edit | edit source]

College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
State College of Arkansas / Central Arkansas Bears (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) (1972–1981)
1972 State College of Arkansas 2–7–1 0–5–1 7th
1973 State College of Arkansas 6–5 3–3 4th
1974 State College of Arkansas 6–3–2 2–2–2 T–4th
1975 Central Arkansas 4–6–1 3–2–1 4th
1976 Central Arkansas 9–3 5–1 T–1st L NAIA Division I Championship
1977 Central Arkansas 7–3 4–2 2nd
1978 Central Arkansas 9–2 6–0 1st L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal
1979 Central Arkansas 7–2–2 2–2–2 4th
1980 Central Arkansas 9–1 6–0 1st L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal
1981 Central Arkansas 8–3 6–0 1st L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal
State College of Arkansas / Central Arkansas: 67–35–6 37–17–6
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (1982–1985)
1982 Lamar 4–7 1–4 T–5th
1983 Lamar 2–9 1–5 7th
1984 Lamar 2–9 1–5 T–6th
1985 Lamar 3–8 0–6 7th
Lamar: 11–33 3–20
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) (1986–1992)
1986 Arkansas Tech 6–4 5–2 T–2nd
1987 Arkansas Tech 2–6–1 1–4–1 7th
1988 Arkansas Tech 6–4 3–3 3rd
1989 Arkansas Tech 6–3 3–3 4th
1990 Arkansas Tech 4–6 0–6 7th
1991 Arkansas Tech 0–10 0–6 7th
1992 Arkansas Tech 4–5–1 2–4 5th
Arkansas Tech: 28–38–2 14–28–1
Total: 106–106–8
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Junior college football

[edit | edit source]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Ranger Rangers (Southwest Junior College Football Conference) (2001)
2001 Ranger 2–8 1–6 7th
Ranger Rangers (NJCAA independent) (2002–2004)
2002 Ranger 5–5
2003 Ranger 4–6
2004 Ranger 4–6
Ranger: 15–25 1–6
Total: 15–25

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Arkansas Bears to invade Indian country
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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