The Hazen School Board has officially approved the hiring of Clay Totty as the district’s new head football coach and athletic director.
Totty brings 28 years of coaching experience to Hazen, including 25 years spent at Rison. Most recently, he comes from Wynne, where he continued to build on a long and respected career in Arkansas athletics.
With decades of experience, Coach Totty emphasized his philosophy on building character.
“Hard work. There’s no easy way to do anything in life,” Totty said. “We are trying to mold better men, better women throughout the athletic program so that when they get out in the world, they’re productive, and they make us proud.”
In his new role, Totty plans to implement strategies to strengthen both participation and the overall program culture. One of his key ideas includes working with the administration and the high school counselor to restructure the school day by blocking first and second periods for junior high athletics. This change would allow students to ride buses and create more dedicated practice time, ultimately improving skill development, participation, and morale.
Totty further stressed the importance of building a strong team culture grounded in character and accountability.
“We are going to work hard, have a positive attitude, and be respectful,” he said. “We are going to be a team.”
District leaders and community members are optimistic that Totty’s experience and vision will continue to drive growth and success in Hazen’s athletic programs.
Welcome to Hornet Nation, Coach Totty!