A sign of a successful football program is having coveted assistant coaches. So it comes as no surprise that Marion head football coach, Lance Clark, has spent most of his off-season replacing veteran assistant coaches. That's the backdrop as Marion opened spring football last week, when Clark announced that he has hired Tate Benton to be his new defensive coordinator, Dylan Musselman as his new offensive coordinator, and Jamie Carter as his new defensive line coach. “We feel like we hit an absolute home runs with this round of hires,” said Clark. “These three guys are all rock stars, they're football guys. They work extremely hard and are knowledgeable. We think they're great fits for us here. There's just a lot to like about them, and we are ready for them to be with us full time.” Benton succeeds Rod Stinson, who will be the head football coach at Blytheville in 2025 and beyond. Musselman takes over for Zach Tribble, who accepted an offensive coordinator job and quarterback coach position in the Dallas area. Carter succeeds Trent Ellis, who became Conway's defensive coordinator officially almost two weeks ago. Carter will also serve as associate head coach. “Those guys all found tremendous opportunities elsewhere, and they all got promotions,” said Clark. “They needed to be rewarded for their hard work here, and we are excited that they're bettering themselves. Selfishly, we will miss them because they're great coaches and will be difficult to replace, but that's what we are going to try to do now.” Benton arrives in Marion after stints at Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, and most recently, he was Beebe's defensive coordinator. Under Benton, the 2024 Beebe Badgers surrendered 17 points per game to qualify for the playoffs. Beebe allowed two touchdowns or fewer six times last fall, including shutouts of Maumelle and Watson Chapel. “Tate Benton is the best defensive mind in the state of Arkansas,” said Clark. “I called a bunch of football coaches whom I know and respect, and they all told me that Tate is a great football coach. When you look at Beebe, they aren't necessarily one of the top schools in that league as far as talent, but they were always well coached and schemed up. They played extremely hard. His ability to gameplan and scheme and take away what the other team wants to do is as good as anyone. His teams play with tremendous effort always.” Musselman played for Clark in Alabama, and he got his coaching start under Clark as a receivers coach. “Dylan is a creative, sharp offensive mind,” said Clark. “His greatest strength is that he gets kids playing with super, super confidence. He's high energy, he keeps it pushing in a positive direction. He calls the game freely, guys start believing, and they play better. We want the ball to be going everywhere, and guys to be ready to produce when we call on them.” Carter is a familiar name to Marion football, as he coordinated the Patriot defense in 2018 and 2019, helping MHS to 14 wins and a pair of playoff appearances before he took over as Osceola's head football coach in time for the 2020 season. “He's been a head coach, he can help with a bunch of stuff with staff, kids, he's organized,” said Clark. “He's one of the top defensive line coaches in our area. If you give him your defensive line, then they'll take off. We have seen it here; we saw it at Osceola. That's just who he is. Getting Jamie Carter here on the d-line and as associate head coach is so massive for us.” Marion's spring football game is scheduled for Friday, May 30 inside Southern Bancorp Stadium. The Patriots open their 2025 regular season on Friday, August 22 with a benefit scrimmage against Valley View, with the season opener scheduled for Friday, August 29 at home against Wynne.