Ken Stephens

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
Position(s)Defensive 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)
TournamentsFootball
1–4 (NAIA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
4 AIC (1976, 1978, 1980–1981)

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]

  1. ^ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas".
  2. ^ Arkansas Bears to invade Indian country
  3. ^ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Lamar re-institutes football with great energy
  5. ^ "Former UCA, Tech coach inducted into Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame". March 9, 2014.
  6. ^ "Kenneth Gene Stephens". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. September 3, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.