JD Plumlee named head football coach at CAC

Plumlee, 44, joins the Mustangs after five years at Malvern High School. Among his many accomplishments during his career, Plumlee led the Leopards to a 64-39 4A State Championship victory over Harding Academy in 2022.

“We are excited to come be a part of the rich tradition at CAC,” Plumlee said. “We believe in the mission of Mustang Mountain, and we want to help continue to grow the good work that is established here.”

CAC Athletic Director Hayden Cruce highlighted not only Plumlee’s success on the field, but also his track record as a man of faith who inspires young men to grow into men of character.

“Coach Plumlee is first and foremost a man of deep faith,” Cruce said. “On the field, his results are a testament to his exceptional abilities as a coach. We believe that his commitment to engaging with young people, his expectation for excellence from himself as well as others, and his desire to please the Lord set him apart as a leader on and off the field.”

Plumlee began his football career as a player for Lakeside High School before earning a baseball scholarship to attend Arkansas Tech. He has spent 20 years coaching high school and middle school athletics, including nine years as an assistant at Lakeside and as offensive coordinator at Malvern, Harrison and Russellville. While at Russellville, Plumlee led an offense that won the 2016 State Championship. He got his first head coaching job at Fountain Lake and in 2018 was named one of Coach & AD magazine’s 40 Under 40 coaches.

In 2019, Plumlee took over an 0-10 Malvern squad and never failed to make the state playoffs in his five years at the helm. After leading the Leopards to the State Championship in 2022, Plumlee was named the Farm Bureau Coach of the Year. Last year, Malvern finished 8-4 with a loss in the second round of the state playoffs to the eventual 4A state champions. Coach Plumlee and his wife Tiffany have two children: Jackson, 14, and Madison, 12. Plumlee’s first day at Mustang Mountain will be Feb. 1.

Plumlee takes over a Mustang program that saw a return to success last year with a conference championship and a trip to the State Quarterfinals.

Cruce believes that Plumlee will find quick success among CAC’s community.

“Coach Plumlee’s outstanding success and results on the football field speak for themselves,” Cruce said. “He has won championships in multiple classifications across Arkansas, but his most impressive attribute is his ability to lead and inspire excellence in his colleagues, student-athletes, and community.

“We are extremely proud to have Coach Plumlee and his family join the CAC community.”