Conference: 1-4A

Coach (Alma mater, year graduated, years at school, record at school): Brian Little (Fort Smith Southside, 1988, 1st, 0-0)

Assistant coaches (Alma mater, year graduated): Defensive Coordinator Daniel Ramsey (Pea Ridge, 1986); OL/DL Marty Edmiston (Prairie Grove, 1991); DB/WR Corey Jacobs (New Boston, Texas, 1992); RB/R Nick Bartmier (County Line, 1998).

Stadium: Pioneer Stadium

Record last year: 1-9 overall, 0-7 conference

Points scored, points allowed last year: 142-339

Last playoff appearance: 1998

Playoff appearances since 1968: 15

Playoff record: 5-15

State championships: 0

Offense: I-Back, 0-Back, Shotgun/Spread

Returning offensive starters: OL Beau Sikes (5-10, 180, Sr.), Little says he has good football knowledge; QB/WR Matt Pierce (5-11, 165, Sr.), a quarterback last season and Little says he will continue working at quarterback and is expected to see time at receiver and defensive back; OL Beau Straubing (5-10, 226, Sr.), his coach calls him a good athlete that can play several positions; WR Josh Holland (5-9, 140, Sr.), has good speed according to Little; RB/TE Ty Browers (6-0, 190, Jr.); OL Conner Willett (5-10, 255, Jr.); TE Tim Henderson (6-3, 165, Sr.); WR Ryan Walker (5-9, 147, Sr.).

Defense: 4-3, 4-4

Returning defensive starters: LB Ty Bowers; LB Beau Sikes; DE Tim Henderson, has good size according to Little; DL Colton Hutcheson (5-10, 195, Sr.), his coach says he has a good work ethic; DB/P Josh Holland; DB Tucker Lewis (5-11, 132, Sr.); DL Doug Switzer (5-11, 215, Sr.), Little calls him a good technique player; DL Beau Straubing.

Other key players: TE/DE Ezra Allen (6-1, 205, Sr.); QB/C Caleb Ramsey (6-2, 165, Soph.); OLB Nick Weeks (5-10, 165, Soph.); DB Jimmy Corder (5-9, 136, Jr.); WR/DB Kyle Miller (5-11, 150, Soph.); OL/DL Josh Hancock (5-9, 220, Jr.); WR/DB Ryan Wright (5-7, 156, Jr.); RB/DB/K Mario Orozco (5-4, 118, Soph.).

2007 Outlook: After spending 11 seasons (six at Rogers and five at Greenwood) on coach Ronnie Peacock's staff, Brian Little has taken over at Gentry. He inherits a team that struggled to a 1-9 season in 2006 and has not reached the playoffs since 1998. Little has been part of successful programs everywhere he has coached. He was even part of a state runner-up team at Fort Smith Southside. So it is almost appropriate that his first head coaching job the mascot of the school would be the Pioneers as Little will look the guide Gentry to new heights. Gentry returns eight starters on offense to help implement the new system. Defensively, Gentry returns eight starters on defense as well. The bad news is those starters allowed 33.9 points per game last season. The good news is that experience should benefit the 2007 Pioneers. Little brought two assistants to Gentry from Oakdale Junior High in Rogers to help speed up the transition. To predict the playoffs in 2007 for the Pioneers would be a stretch, but with a new attitude things could change quickly, as it normally does with high school teams.

Comments by coach: "In order to be successful, we will need to improve at the offensive skill positions. Anytime you implement a new system, developing skill players can take some time. Staying healthy will also be key. As the new head coach, my evaluations are based solely on my time with the team since January of this year. ... It appears that our offensive and defensive lines are expected to be a strength . We are young, but have good size and depth for a small squad. I believe the 1-4A conference is a solid conference with experienced coaching and great talent. I expect perennial playoff teams from this conference to continue their trends. It is the goal of our staff and team to be one of the top four teams at the end of week 10.