Heaton resigns as RHS AD, head football coach

Russellville City Schools athletic director and head football coach Mark Heaton has resigned, effective June 30, 2018, and the school board will soon begin its search for someone to fill these positions.

Heaton, who has served as athletic director and head football coach since March 2014, has led the football program to a 30-16 record during his tenure, has overseen the athletic department during the three state championship wins by the RHS baseball team and supported the implementation of the high school’s first competitive soccer team in school history.

RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes shared the news of Heaton’s resignation Feb. 22.

“Coach Heaton has done a great job during his time at Russellville, and we have seen a lot of success and progress in our programs during this time,” Grimes said. “We appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has given to Russellville City Schools and to his student athletes, and we are thankful for the way he led these programs with class and integrity, both of which are excellent character traits for our athletes to see displayed on and off the field. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Grimes said as he and the board turn their attention to what’s to come, they are very optimistic about the future of athletics at RCS.

“Russellville has always had a rich tradition when it comes to our athletic program,” Grimes said, “and what we want to do is build on this tradition as we move forward. My hope is that we won’t rely on our past successes or focus on wins and losses that are behind us, but instead we embrace our rich history and use it as motivation to move forward, to progress, to look to the future, and to grow on and off the field.”