Contact Info.
Phone: 479-968-0245
E-Mail: smullins@atu.edu  

Education:
High School:
Camden High School (Camden, Arkansas), 1976
College:
University of Arkansas-Monticello (Monticello, Ark.), Bachelor of Science, 1980
University of Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.), Master of Physical Education, 1982

Coaching Experience:
Coach Mullins began his coaching career at Lamar University as outside linebackers coach in 1982. He also served as defensive line coach from 1983-84 and as offensive line coach in 1985 while at Lamar. He was the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Southwestern State University (Okla.) from 1986-87. From 1988-89, Coach Mullins served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Northwest Missouri State University. In 1990, Mullins went to Northwestern State University (La.) as linebackers coach. In 1991-96, he served as offensive line coach. From 1994-96, he served as offensive coordinator and he was the assistant head coach from 1995-96. Coach Mullins has been at Arkansas Tech University since 1997.

At Tech:
When Steve Mullins became the 14th head football coach in Arkansas Tech University history in the summer of 1997, he inherited a program in transition. The Wonder Boys had posted just six winning seasons and one conference championship in the previous 20 years, and they were in the infancy of a new era as members of NCAA Division II and the ultra-competitive Gulf South Conference.

11 football seasons later, Tech has accomplished feats unmatched by any of its fellow GSC members from Arkansas. The Wonder Boys were the first Gulf South football program in Arkansas to ever win the GSC title outright (1999), the first GSC football program in Arkansas to host an NCAA Division II Playoff game (2004) and the first GSC football program in Arkansas to win an NCAA Division II Playoff game (2004). Mullins enters the 2008 season as the second winningest active coach in the GSC with 71 wins and is the third all-time winningest coach in Tech history. 

Those deeds have earned Mullins two Gulf South Conference coach of the year awards (1999, 2004) and one NCAA Division II South Region Coach of the Year honor (2004).

“It means a lot to me personally, and it means a lot to our program as well,” said Mullins when asked about the awards. “When we go out to sell this program and this university, it gives us more credibility. Coach of the year awards are just like playing quarterback. When things are going great, you get too much credit. When everything is going poorly, you get too much blame. So, I guess when things do go well you need to accept them and enjoy them while you can. It’s truly a team award. So many people contribute to a successful football program. I hold the position of head coach so I get all that credit, but there are countless people who worked very hard so that I could win those awards.”

Personal:
Coach Mullins is 51 years old. He was born June 9, 1958, in Camden, Arkansas. He is married to the former Liz Morgan of Groves, Texas. The couple has three children: Katie, Hunter, and Mason.

Jeff Byrd
Assistant Football Coach (Defensive Coordinator)

Contact Info:
Phone: 479-964-3205
E-mail: jbyrd4@atu.edu

Education:
High School:
Southaven High School (Southaven, Miss.), 1985
College:
Southern Mississippi University (Hattiesburg, Miss.), Bachelor of Science, 1989
Delta State University (Cleveland, Miss.), Master of Education, 2005

About Byrd:
Jeff Byrd was recently named Tech's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tech. Byrd comes to Tech after spending the past four seasons (2005-08) at Tech's Gulf South Conference rival, Southern Arkansas, as its defensive coordinator. While at SAU, Byrd coached 13 All-GSC performers and helped the Muleriders defense finished this past season ranked 18th nationally in rushing defense (96.8 yards/game). Prior to his tenure at SAU, Byrd spent two seasons (2003-04) as the defensive coordinator at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss. In 2004, Byrd's defense at NW Mississippi allowed only 212 yards of offense per game and allowed 15.1 points per contest, while his 2003 defense ranked fourth nationally in NJCAA in rushing defense (71.6 yards/game), 14th in total defense (237.2 yards/game) and 27th in passing defense (165.6 yards/game). In addition to his coaching stints at SAU and NW Mississippi, Byrd also spent three seasons (2000-02) as an offensive line coach at Mars Hill College in North Carolina, including serving as the school's co-offensive coordinator in 2002. He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 2000 and before that served as the head coach, principal and athletic director at Bayou Academy in Cleveland, Miss., in 1999 and spent four seasons (1994-98) as a varsity football assistant coach at Washington High School in Greenville, Miss. 

As a high school student-athlete at Southaven High School, Byrd was a three-year letterwinner in both baseball and football. After high school, Byrd lettered for three seasons as a center at Southern Miss and was a member of the Golden Eagles 1989 Independence Bowl championship team. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from USM in 1989 and earned his master's degree in education from Delta State University in 2005. He is married to the former Pamela Grosche of Bogalusa, La., and the couple have three children, Scott (19), a freshman football player at Tech, Kris (16) and Mary Katelyn (9).

Scott Preston
Assistant Football Coach (Offensive Coordinator)

Contact Info:
Phone: 479-964-0351
E-mail: spreston1@atu.edu

Education:
High School:
Palo Alto High School (Palo Alto, Calif.), 1979
College:
Valdosta State University (Valdosta, Ga.), Bachelor of Arts, 1994

About Preston:
Scott Preston is entering his third season with the Wonder Boys football program, serving as the team's offensive coordinator, along with coaching the quarterbacks and wide receivers.  Preston brings an extensive background with him, that includes 18 years of football coaching at various levels. Preston comes to Tech after spending four seasons (2000-03) as the offensive coordinator and quarterback, running back and receivers coach at Illinois State University, an NCAA Division I-AA school in Normal, Ill. In addition to Illinois State, he spent two seasons (1998-99) as both an offensive coordinator and wide receiver/passing game coordinator at Murray State University. Other coaching stops for Preston include serving one season (1997) as the offensive coordinator at Ventura College, and one season (1996) as the quarterback/receiver coach and passing game coordinator at Georgia Military College. He has also served as a head coach in 1995 of the Helsinki Roosters in the Finnish Professional Football League. Preston began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator at Palo Alto High School in 1988 and then was promoted to head coach at Palo Alto H.S. (1989-90). He also has had stints as a passing game coordinator at San Francisco State University and as a running backs coach at Valdosta State University.

Preston, a native of Palo Alto, Calif., was a three-year letterwinner as a quarterback in high school at Palo Alto H.S. He earned his bachelors degree in 1994 from Valdosta State University. Preston is single and resides in Russellville.

Les Boyum
Assistant Football Coach (Offensive Line)

Contact Info:
Phone: 479-968-0346
E-Mail: lboyum@atu.edu

Education:
High School:
Battle Lake High School (Battle Lake, Minn.), 1977
College:
Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minn.), Bachelor of Science, 1982
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), Master of Education, 1987

About Boyum:
Les Boyum is entering his fourth season with the Arkansas Tech football program, working with the Wonder Boys' offensive line and handling all the team's equipment. Boyum came to Tech after spending two seasons (2004-05) at the University of Arkansas working with former Razorback and current University of Mississippi Head Coach Houston Nutt. Prior to working at Arkansas, Boyum spent seven seasons as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, Mo. In addition to working at Arkansas and Missouri Western, Boyum has served as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri-Rolla (1992-96), Austin Peay State University (1990-91) and spent two seasons (1985-86) as a graduate assistant coach at University of Minnesota, including  working the 1985 season with former Arkansas and Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz. Boyum began his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant at Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minn. In addition to his college coaching experiences, Boyum also coached in high school at Robert E. Lee High School in Houston, Texas from 1982-84 and again from 1987-89. After his second stint at Lee H.S., he spent one year (1989) as an assistant at North Lamar High School in Paris, Texas, and spent two seasons (1991-92) as the offensive coordinator and head boy's track and field coach at Fayetteville (Ark.) High School.

Boyum, a native of Battle Lake, Minn., began his college playing career at Golden Valley Lutheran Community College in Minneapolis, Minn., before completing his final two years at Augsburg College, where he earned All-Conference honors as an offensive lineman. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Augsburg in 1982 and earned his masters degree in education from Minnesota in 1987. He is married to the former Sheri McElfresh Lucy of Salem, Mo. and has two stepchildren, Michelle Lucy (25) and Nathaniel Lucy (20).

Clint Reed
Assistant Football Coach (Defensive Line)

Contact Info:
Phone: 479-968-0282
E-Mail: creed3@atu.edu

Education:
High School:
Nashville High School (Nashville, Ark.), 1997
College:
Arkansas Tech University, Bachelor of Science (HPE), 2002
Arkansas Tech University, Master of Education, 2006

About Reed:
Clint Reed is making his return to the Wonder Boy coaching staff after spending the past three years (2006-08) as a defensive assistant coach at Nashville High School. While at Nashville, Reed helped the school win consecutive Arkansas Class 4A state titles in 2006 and 2007 and also helped coach the baseball team to its first-ever state title in 2007. Prior to coaching at Nashville, Reed spent one season (2005) as the linebackers coach at Tech and also served as a graduate assistant coach with the Wonder Boys in 2003 and 2004. He also spent one season as an assistant football coach at Dover High School, where he helped the Pirates to a 9-2 record and a conference championship.

Reed, a native of Nashville, Ark., earned four letters each in football and baseball with the Scrappers and was named a three-time All-Conference selection in both baseball and football and was named an All-State selection as a pitcher in baseball. After high school,. Reed was a four-year lettermen and starter with the Wonder Boys as an offensive lineman. He was part of Tech's 1999 GSC Championship team that earned the school's first-ever NCAA Division II Playoff berth. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Tech in 2002 and earned his master's degree in education from Tech in 2006. He is married to the former Elizabeth Ferguson (a 2002 Tech graduate) of St. Louis, Mo., and the couple has a son, Tanner (2).    

Garren Rockwell
Assistant Football Coach (Running Backs)

Contact Info:
Phone: 479-968-0360
E-Mail: grockwell@atu.edu

Education:
High School:
Liberty-Eylau High School (Texarkana, Texas), 1999
College:
University of Arkansas-Monticello (Monticello, Ark.), Bachelor of Arts in History, 2005
Arkansas Tech University, Master of Education, 2007.

About Rockwell:
Garren Rockwell is entering his second season as a full-time assistant coach with Arkansas Tech football program, after spending the previous three seasons serving as a graduate assistant coach with the Wonder Boys. In addition to his coaching duties, Rockwell also serves as the school's Director of NCAA Compliance. Rockwell will coach the running backs this coming season after helping coach the defensive line and punt return teams during his time as a graduate assistant. Prior to coming to Tech, Rockwell, who is a native of Texarkana, Texas, spent one season (2004) as a student assistant and strength coach at Arkansas-Monticello, while he was completing his undergraduate work. He is a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School, where he was a member of the school's 1999 Class 3A Division I Texas State Championship team.

Rockwell then went on to letter and play four seasons at Arkansas-Monticello as a defensive linemen. While at UAM, Rockwell was a team captain for two seasons and was named the 2000 UAM Freshman of Year Football Award winner. In addition to his athletic accolades, Rockwell was also named the 2004 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Man of the Year Award winner. Rockwell earned his Bachelor of Arts in history and a minor in coaching degree from UAM in 2005 and earned his masters degree in education from Arkansas Tech in December 2007. He is married to the former Gina Parker (a 2006 Tech graduate) of Little Rock, Ark., and the couple resides in Russellville. 

Ryan Wallace
Assistant Football Coach (Secondary)

Contact Info:
Phone: 479-964-3203
E-Mail: rwallace@atu.edu

Education:
High School:
Searcy High School (Searcy, Ark.), 1996
College:
Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.), Bachelor of Science Education, 2001; Master of Science in Sports Administration, 2003.

About Wallace:
Ryan Wallace is entering his sixth season with the Arkansas Tech football program, working once again this season with the defensive secondary after working with the with the Wonder Boys' receivers in 2007.  Prior to coaching the receivers, Wallace spent two seasons working with the running backs. Prior to coming to Tech, Wallace, a native of Searcy, Ark., spent the previous year as an assistant football coach at Forrest City (Ark.) High School. He is a graduate of Searcy High School, where he earned two football letters as a fullback and linebacker.

He went on to play for three seasons at Henderson State University as a cornerback and then spent a couple of years on the Reddies' staff as a graduate assistant coach. Wallace received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 2001 and the Master of Science in sports administration in 2003, both from Henderson State. He is married to the former Jenny Maland of Harrison, Ark., and the couple are the proud parents of twins, Madison and Matthew and they reside in Russellville.

Graduate Assistant Coaches

Kyle Koets (1st season)
David Misiewicz (1st season)
Danny Schaechter (1st season)
Travion Scott (2nd season)

 

Front Row (L to R): Danny Schaechter (receivers), David Misiewicz (defensive backs).
Back Row (L to R): Travion Scott (defensive line), Kyle Koets (offensive line & tight ends).