SHERWOOD, Ark. -- Sylvan Hills High School announces the hiring of Mark Kelley as its new head varsity football coach effective January 20, 2025. Kelley will assume the head coach position and, starting in the fall 2025, will also coach physical education.
Kelley comes to Sylvan Hills High School with more than a decade of coaching experience. Most recently, he coached at Conway High School as the offensive coordinator, a position he held since 2020. Prior to his time at Conway, he spent five years as the head coach at Searcy High School. His coaching career started in Crossett as an assistant and, then, head coach.
“Becoming the head coach at Sylvan Hills is an incredible honor,” said Kelley. “I am excited to be a part of a great school and community. I am looking forward to getting to know our student athletes and staff as we work towards building a championship program.”
Kelley earned quite a few accolades over the years for his coaching success. He received AAA Head Coach of the Year Award, the Broyles Award for Best Assistant Coach, NFHS Arkansas Football Coach of the Year and the Little Rock Touchdown Club named him 6A Coach of the Year. Over the past eight years, his teams averaged 40+ points per game and his record is 79-21 during that time.
"It’s going to be exciting to see the winning tradition and great offensive success that Coach Kelley will be bringing to our football program,” said Sylvan Hills athletic director Denny Tipton.
Kelley will start the new year at Sylvan Hills High School as the head football coach and add teaching to his school responsibilities in the upcoming school year.