Coach Darrell Burnett makes adjustments to the Hot Springs football game

Hot Springs, Arkansas – Darrell Burnett, a Bryant assistant coach, understood he was leaving a dominant program that would win numerous titles when he accepted the position of head coach in Hot Springs seven years ago.

He departed to take the helm of a failing school in need of infrastructure improvements. He only had two words at the moment: challenge accepted.

“It’s just exciting to wake up every day and figure out how you’re going to fix a mistake and get to the level that you know you can get to,” Burnett said.

Before Burnett was hired, the Trojans had only made the playoffs three times since 2002. Now, he has led the team to the postseason four times in a row.

“One can no longer approach someone covertly. People no longer have low expectations for you; instead, they are picking you to place highly and win,” he continued. “We, like with others, have great expectations of ourselves. We have to live up to those standards and acknowledge that we are not good enough until we are wearing jewelry.”

But it’s not only about the standards on the field; it’s also about instilling a feeling of pride and conviction in the young people who represent Hot Springs High School.

Many people in this community are proud of their origins. We will be proud to call Hot Springs home and to be Hot Springs Trojans. standing for that gold in Vegas and that black. We want to show everyone who doubts us wrong and everyone who believes in us right,” Burnett said.

Perhaps the main reason Coach Burnett and his team have such a deep affection for the children is that they were themselves in the same situation.

“The majority of my coaching staff has experienced and witnessed a great deal. Our children reflect back on us. “All we want is for them to go and take care of themselves,” he remarked.

Regarding the present, Coach Burnett stated that he would not object to a significant victory on Friday night in front of the Hot Springs supporters.

“We are aware that losing is never acceptable. It doesn’t matter if it’s one or thirty. It’s always nice to win, and a loss is a loss,” Burnett continued.