Stephens in line to be named head football coach at Walton

Less than two months after firing former head football coach and Athletic Director Bobby Bennett, Walton High School Principal Russell Hughes hopes he has found his replacement.

On Tuesday, Hughes announced he would recommend Jimmy Ray Stephens, the one-time Fort Walton Beach head coach and longtime college assistant, to fill the vacancies at Walton.

Stephens, who resigned as the offensive line coach at Division-I Middle Tennessee State University on Feb. 15, is perhaps best known locally for guiding the Vikings to the Class 4A state championship in 1991.

Hughes said his recommendation would be put before the Walton County School Board for a vote during its next meeting, which is slated for March 12. He said he hoped to have Stephens on offically on board "as soon as we can."

Walton went 0-10 a year ago in its one season under the direction of Bennett. 

“I often say I’m a very blessed man to be able to work with children like I do at Walton High School,” Hughes said. “To have the opportunity to hire a guy like Jimmy Ray Stephens, with the success and experience he has … I feel like he’d be a great choice.”

Stephens said returning to the high school coaching ranks – as well as his home state of Florida – offered a much-needed change from both a personal and professional standpoint. He had served as the Blue Raiders offensive line coach for the past six years.

“I’ve been miserable the last couple of years,” Stephens said. “I just felt like it was time for a change.”

“After spending 20 years in college football, it was a good 20 years, it was a great run, but I think I’ve gotten to the point now where I want to matter,” Stephens said. “I feel like, by going back to high school coaching and being the head coach myself and doing my thing the way I believe in doing things and making a difference in young people’s live … I’m not sure you can get much of that done at the college level.

“It feels right, it feels good.”

Stephens coached at Fort Walton Beach from 1990-1992, going 30-4 in that span before accepting an assistant coach position on Steve Spurrier’s staff at the University of Florida, where he played as an offensive lineman in the early ‘70’s. Stephens went on to coach at the University of Tennessee before landing at MTSU.

As a high school head coach, Stephens has compiled a 63-7 record.

Follow Travis Downey on Twitter: @TravisDnwfdn