Director to lead future athletics facility development
Wayne Stehlik
Wayne Stehlik isn’t finished building his “Mount Rushmore.”
The Springdale Public Schools Athletic Director counts adding seventh-grade sports, girls high school wrestling and seventh- and eighth-grade soccer to the district, developing facilities in which student athletes can grow and compete and hiring student-centered coaches as three of the “faces” on his “Mount Rushmore” of noteworthy accomplishments with Springdale Schools.
"We are thankful for Coach Stehlik's work and contributions to Springdale Schools," said Dr. Jared Cleveland, Springdale Public Schools superintendent. "I look forward to his continued commitment to growth and to keeping Springdale a destination school district for athletics."
Stehlik, 65, will transition in August to become the Director of Development for Athletics, a new position for the district. He reflected April 5 on his years as the Athletic Director and shared how he’ll continue to help develop and upgrade district athletic facilities through his new role.
“I’m excited,” Stehlik said. “This allows me the opportunity to take the relationships I have made in my 12 years as Athletic Director and, hopefully, connect some of those people to help us build or renovate or add onto existing facilities.”
The long-time athletics leader said he just may discover what the next “face” on his personal “Mount Rushmore” may look like as he continues to serve Springdale’s student athletes as the Director of Development for Athletics.
Wayne Stehlik high fives cheer students at a district athletic event.
District Impacts
Stehlik came to the district after serving as Assistant Basketball Coach with Nolan Richardson at the University of Arkansas for 17 years, followed by two years with Richardson as a coach with the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA.
Over the last 12 years, Stehlik has diligently worked toward growing school athletic facilities and programs with the support of district leadership, he said.
The Athletic Director led the way toward expanding district athletic programs to provide opportunities for about 1,500 additional student athletes to compete from junior high through high school, Stehlik said. The district also now employs around 200 student-centered coaches supporting over 219 teams and about 3,900 student athletes.
The district likewise won about 15 state championships and some 31conference championships under the Athletic Director’s leadership.
Perhaps one of the most visible aspects of Stehlik’s work is the development of Har-Ber and Springdale high schools’ athletic facilities, which look dramatically different from when he started with the district in 2011, Stehlik said.
Har-Ber’s exterior athletic facilities were limited to a red, brick fieldhouse, which now serves the school’s coaching staff, he said. The fieldhouse was the sole locker room and practice area for the school’s athletic teams.
“The press box was a huge dirt pile,” Stehlik said.
Today, the school’s approximately 2,280 students can compete in a stadium, on eight tennis courts, at an indoor practice facility, on a track and at baseball and softball facilities, he said.
“Now we have kids who can compete on campus,” Stehlik said. “We can connect more kids to school and the community.”
Springdale High Schools’ athletic facilities have likewise changed to better support the school’s approximately 2,040 students, he said.
District leadership approved the development of an outdoor track, baseball and softball facilities, a basketball arena, as well as expanding the tennis courts from four to eight and upgrading the football stadium over Stehlik’s time with the district.
As much as Stehlik has accomplished, he said he still has unfinished work to do.
“Even though we've built a lot of facilities, you have to always maintain or you have to build some more,” Stehlik said.
Wayne Stehlik with retired district coach Dennis Debusk, the namesake for Springdale High's track.
What's Next
"Springdale Schools is committed to providing world-class facilities for our parents, students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Springdale Community," Cleveland said. "Schools are the heartbeat of a community, and athletic events are central to students' educational experiences."
Upcoming development at Har-Ber is projected to include expanding the current indoor practice facility by about 45 yards, upgrades to the baseball and softball facilities, expanding bleacher seating and gymnasium upgrades, he said.
Development at Springdale High is anticipated to include building a second indoor practice facility to ensure both high schools have equitable practice space, upgrades to the baseball and softball facilities and expanding bleacher seating.
Construction of a $38-million new gym, an auxiliary gym and classrooms is currently underway at Springdale High as well, said Jeremy White, Springdale Public Schools maintenance director. There are no projected costs for future development at either high school at this time.
While Stehlik provided leadership for the district as it developed facilities, the Athletics Director credits district administrators, the School Board and the local community for the district’s growing athletic facilities.
“I never hammered one nail, but I happened to be the bus driver,” Stehlik said.
Stehlik lives in Fayetteville and has been married to his wife, Tracey, for 33 years. The couple has two daughters, Mollie and Maggie.
Springdale Public Schools is currently searching for its next Athletic Director. Additional information on the position and how to apply for employment with the district for any currently open position is available here. The district hopes to hire an incoming Athletic Director by July 1.