To lead its women's basketball program into Arkansas Activities Association play, Conway Christian School has linked with one of the most successful names in Arkansas high school history and attracted one of its most successful players.
It's a Hutchcraft.
Ashley Hutchcraft Nance, daughter of Hall of Fame Guy-Perkins coach John Hutchcraft, former three-time MVP of the Class AAA women's tournament and thrice the Log Cabin Democrat's MVP on the All-Faulkner County girls team, has been named head girls basketball coach at CCS, completing the staff for the transition from the Arkansas Christian Conference to the AAA.
"I was looking for possible either an older, experienced, possibly retired coach who wanted a new challenge or a younger, up-and-coming coach with a bright future. I think we found the latter in Ashley," said Chuck Speer, CCS athletic director. "She's had quite a resume as a player, she's grown up with one of the legendary coaches in Arkansas and she had some great references, including people like Lu Hardin (University of Central Arkansas president) and Ron Marvel (Hall of Fame UCA Sugar Bear coach).
"She has a strong Christian commitment her husband (former UCA football player Zach) is considering going into the ministry. I think she's just a great fit. We have a lot of young talent here, and I think she's will be a great coach to relate to that young talent."
It was also a good fit in Nance's mind.
"I've been wanting a head coaching job; that was my goal," Nance said. "When I went to interview, I just fell in love with the school. Coach Speer's a great guy, and they have good facilities and this seemed what I was looking for."
It was assumed by many, particularly since she served as her father's assistant last season in helping the Lady Thunderbirds to a Class A runner-up finish, that she would succeed her dad (one of the winningest coaches in Arkansas high school history) as head coach at Guy-Perkins.
"I talked to Dad a lot and he offered the chance to coach the senior girls and he the senior boys, but he admitted this was a good opportunity," she said. "My Dad's an institution at Guy-Perkins, and whoever comes in after he retires faces the reality that this is John Hutchcraft's territory and he built this program. Whoever was going to take over has to fill some big shoes, including his daughter.
"Quite honestly, I wanted to start a program on my own."
She turns 23 today.
"The confidence I have comes from I've been around a winning program and I know what it takes to field winning programs," she said. "Conway Christian has been successful in the Christian conference, but this gonna be a lot of work, and it will be tough going into AAA play. I know the type of teams we're going to face. I've heard there are some good young programs here, but it'll be a challenge to go against established strong programs like St. Joseph."
She's relishing the opportunity to start the second private school program in Faulkner County.
"Conway is a growing town with the public schools, and St. Joseph (which will be in Conway Christian's conference) is the only private school. There are probably a lot of athletes who do not have the chance to play on a team. It's another opportunity for girls who might normally not get the chance to play basketball."
Philosophy?
"It'll be similar to Dad's, up-tempo, but it'll be a little bit more defense-oriented," she said. "But I'm not set in any certain style like some coaches wo will never play anything but a man defense or anything but a zone. I'm more flexible. But I grew up in the up-tempo style, played that way and that's how I like to play. I've always wanted a shot clock for high school. I think basketball is more exciting for players and fans when it's up and down."
She has some high goals.
"I know going into AAA, there are not many expectations initially, and it'll be a building process," she said. "But I think this can be a great thing. I think it could eventually become like a Central Arkansas Christian) or a Little Rock Christian of Conway."
