North Little Rock, AR – In a surprising turn of events, Brad Bolding, one of Arkansas’ most successful high school football coaches, is making a notable return to the North Little Rock Charging Wildcats a decade after being dismissed from the position. The school board approved Bolding’s return on Thursday, setting the stage for his second tenure at the helm of the program.
Bolding, aged 55, has an impressive recent history with the Parkview Patriots, where he led the team to an outstanding three consecutive state titles at the 5A classification. Under his leadership, the Patriots amassed a record of 59 wins and 8 losses since 2020, including an undefeated season in 2023. The team showcased their prowess this past year with a remarkable record of 14 wins and 1 loss, highlighted by a dominant performance in the state championship game, where they defeated Farmington 61-21.
Interestingly, Bolding’s journey back to North Little Rock is layered with complexity. He was initially fired in 2015 after a lengthy hearing, with the school board citing concerns about procedural issues over sports equipment purchases and hiring practices related to star athlete K.J. Hill. Hill, who later became an Army-All American and a seventh-round NFL draft choice, had a significant impact on his college team at Ohio State.
After leaving North Little Rock, Bolding took over at Parkview, a program that had struggled in the years before his arrival. He transformed theirs into one of the top programs in the state, culminating in a streak of 33-0 against Class 5A competition over three championship seasons.
As Bolding steps back into his role at North Little Rock, he faces the challenge of reviving a team that struggled last season, finishing 0-10 and scoring over 20 points only twice. However, Bolding has a proven track record of turning around struggling programs. During his first stint at North Little Rock, he took the Charging Wildcats from three wins in his first season to five state semifinal appearances in just six years.
The North Little Rock community is eagerly looking forward to Bolding’s return, hoping he can replicate the success he brought to Parkview and once again elevate the Charging Wildcats’ football program.
