Hallman resigns as Bunkie High football coach

   The coaching carousel at Bunkie New Tech High fieldhouse has made another full circle. For the fourth time since November of 2013 the Bunkie Panthers are looking for a new head football coach, due to the resignation of Freddie Hallman.

   Hallman’s departure comes 11 months after he accepted the position to replace another “one and done” head coach, Kevin Cook.

   Cook -- best known for setting in motion events that led to the end of the annual “Catskin” rivalry game with Marksville High -- quit last May. He came to Bunkie from Buckeye to replace Bruce Webb, who led the gridiron team for 10 years before leaving in 2014.

   Hallman has accepted the head coaching position at Class-AAAA Grant High School, where he coached a few years ago.

   For Hallman, it will not only be a homecoming but  an opportunity to be closer to his family.

   “All of this deals with me being closer to home and to have some time to be able to go and watch my grandkids play,” Hallman said. “Hopefully, I’m a better grandparent than I was a father to my two kids. That’s my No. 1 priority. I’m going to Grant and I’m not going to be the athletic director. I’m soon to have four grandkids and three of them are old enough to play right now.”

   Although he is on the way out, Hallman said he hopes the Panthers can continue their winning ways.

   “I have developed a love for these kids at Bunkie,” Hallman said. “They’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do and continued to work hard. Even though they know that I’m not coming back, they’re in here busting their tails off and doing my workouts that I’ve asked them to do. I followed behind a good coach here. Coach Cook left me a great foundation, so I’ve been blessed in all the years that I moved on to different places that I’ve followed behind head coaches that left behind a good, strong foundation.”

   Interim Principal Laura Hargis said the school is beginning a search for a new football coach. She said she understands the urgency to find a coach because it is so late in the school year, but no  timetable has been set for a new coach to be selected.