Clarkdale hires Gartman

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Feb. 20, 2004
In a move sure to stoke the flames of the two Bulldogs' rivalry, Clarkdale High School introduced Jud Gartman, the longtime Enterprise High School head coach, to lead its own football program.
Gartman left Enterprise after the 2002 season and served as an assistant at Lamar School during its 2003 state championship campaign.
Gartman inherits a program that has seen plenty of ups and downs in recent memory. After 2002 brought a 7-4 season and the first playoff appearance in school history, Clarkdale struggled to a 2-8 record in the 2003 season.
Former coach Gary Lee quit abruptly after the Bulldogs' 0-2 start in September, leaving assistant coach Joey Ethridge to lead the way for the rest of the season.
Gartman's hiring came after a lengthy search, in which he became the leading candidate near the beginning of the year.
The 52-year-old Gartman assured fans at the meeting that he was at Clarkdale for the long haul, saying it was his "last stop."
Gartman told cheering supporters at the booster meeting that he was fond of a phrase "eating crow" that he hoped would be commonly used against Clarkdale's detractors.
The mastermind behind Lamar's championship defense in 2003, Gartman said his time under Raiders head coach Mac Barnes was an important learning experience for him.
That could mean a more spread-out style of offense than Clarkdale fans are used to seeing, Gartman said. He also promised plenty of stunting and aggressive play on defense.
And he expects results quickly.
Thursday's announcement came after the Lauderdale County School Board unanimously approved Gartman's hiring earlier Thursday.