Wyatt to Coach Zizzers

Willow Springs head football coach and alumnus Joel Wyatt accepted a coaching position in West Plains last week. After an illustrious career coaching in Willow in the 90s as well as in larger, better-funded districts, Wyatt returned to his hometown and coached one season of Bears football. He accepted a contract in Willow Springs in June of 2021 and coached the Bears through a 2-8 record last season. 

As reported by Howell County News last August, Wyatt, WSHS Class of 1988, brought a career record of 111 and 24 to the program. Last June, Wyatt told the News his return to Willow Springs was motivated by family.

“It was a good move for family reasons,” he said in that interview.

“It’s about me wanting to give back to the community and my high school.”

Many in the community have questioned Wyatt's departure from his hometown program after a single season, and many asked about the fate of the funds raised for the football program on his return.  

In the lead up to the school year, the Football Booster Club organized a steak dinner and auction to benefit the football program. The fundraiser raised an unprecedented amount. Over 200 people attended the auction and dozens of businesses and individuals donated items, cash, or time to make it a success.

Because the fundraiser was a Booster Club project, that organization, not the school district or the school board, has been the custodian of the money. An inquiry from Howell County News confirmed the school board was never informed of or involved in the spending of the funds.

Financial records obtained from the Booster Club show that the organization deposited a total of $23,414.25 in August 2021 after the fundraiser. Food service costs spent in that month and a debit memo of $1,885.27 gave the account an ending balance of $21,045.42 that month.

Over the course of the school year, Wyatt purchased a rally tunnel for the Bears’ field entrances from Inflatable Gurus at a cost of $4,885 and a sideline tarp designed to protect grass from cleats from BSN Sports at a cost of $4,763. Both items are intended for use in the 2022 Bear Football season.

In December 2021, there was a transaction in the amount of $986.21 to Legit Graphics which was for “goal board/signage,” Wyatt said in a statement published on the team’s Facebook page. 

The statement also disclosed a “non-profit legal fee” in the amount of $50.50 and a sum of $1,271 to Skeeter Kell for the purchase of Iron Bear t-shirts and hoodies. 

The Booster Club has funds in the amount of $9,325.71 at the time of this writing. 

“Before I turn over the Willow Springs Football Facebook account, I want to say thank you and farewell to Bear Nation,” Wyatt said in the statement. “I would also like to say thank you to the Willow Springs Football Booster Club for having the steak dinner and auction and selling shirts. Also to everyone who made donations…The future coach will be left with a great balance to purchase items he feels will better the program and support the Bears.”

"I am very excited to lead the Zizzer football program. Coach Ary and Coach Perkins have set the bar high. I'm hoping to carry on the standard that they have set and take it to new heights," Wyatt said in a release from the West Plains School District.

Wyatt declined Howell County News’ request to expand on this statement or comment further on his departure.

Wyatt's teaching and coaching contract at Willow Springs is for $56,205 for the current school year. The district confirmed it usually sets coaching contracts in June. The West Plains School District announced Wyatt’s position as the Zizzers’ head coach on Feb. 28. West Plains R-VII has not released financial information about Wyatt's contract by press time.

Willow Springs did not have an opportunity to offer a contract for the upcoming school year Superintendent Bill Hall confirmed Monday. Wyatt “surely” would have been offered a contract for next year, Hall said.  

In West Plains, Wyatt replaces the current head coach, Matt Perkins, who was recently hired as the head football coach at Columbia Rock Bridge. Prior to his most recent season in Willow Springs, Wyatt also served as the head football coach at Kennett from 2017 to 2021 and at Malden High School from 2010 to 2017. In addition to coaching, he will be the West Plains High School weight room teacher.