24 Aug 2025 Howard’s home team
By Levi Gilbert
For the first time since 2020, the Conway Wampus Cats will have a new offensive coordinator on the sidelines. Ryan Howard, who served as Conway’s quarterbacks coach last season, has been tapped to lead the offense, bringing with him a rich history with the city of Conway and a coaching philosophy shaped by his own experiences as a player and coach.
Howard’s ties to Conway run deep, stemming from his time as a quarterback at the University of Central Arkansas from 2012-14. He also spent a significant portion of his early coaching career on the UCA staff. Howard came to Conway last season after previously serving as the head coach at Central Arkansas Christian.
“We were living in Conway, and my wife and I just had our first child, so being close to where we live was a huge advantage,” he said. “It was an easy choice for us when the opportunity came available.”
Now as the new offensive coordinator, Howard is stepping into a pivotal role for a program that has reached the state semifinals for five consecutive seasons but has yet to earn a trip to the championship. Conway Head Coach Buck James, a coaching legend in Arkansas with seven championships at previous schools, sees a bright future with Howard at the helm of the offense. “I think Ryan’s a really good, young coach,” James said recently on Conway Corp’s 2025 Wampus Cat Football Preseason Show. “He’s very smart. He was a quarterback. He’s a coach’s son. What he does, he does well, and I think that’s what he’s going to bring to our team.”
Howard’s vision for the offense is clear. “We’re going to be a tempo-balanced attack offense. We’re going to take what the defense gives us and play at an ultra-fast speed,” he said. “Our goal is to have 10 explosive plays a game, so we’re looking to be an explosive offense.”
The offense will also blend different styles, drawing from his background. James pointed to Howard’s time at UCA, where the offense was known for throwing the ball. He also noted Howard’s ability to incorporate a strong running game, which is crucial for winning championships.
“For us to win championships, we have got to be able to run the football,” James said. “And we have definitely got to be able to run the football in short-yardage situations. I think Ryan has a great mind for the job and what he’s wanting to do. I think he uses the entire field. I think he sees the field well.”
Howard’s football journey began in Birmingham, Ala., where he played quarterback at Vestavia Hills High School. His father was an offensive line coach at the same school, a situation that provided a unique set of advantages.
“Growing up, he started teaching me the high school offense early, so that way when I started playing in the seventh grade, I already knew the offense and what the quarterback was supposed to do on each play,” Howard said. “I had a great understanding of the offense, so I was able to help get us into the right play.”
This foundational knowledge was further enhanced by his weekly meetings with his father.
“On Sunday nights, he would come home from game-planning, and we would meet and go over the game plan for the week,” Howard said. These conversations instilled in him a love for the strategic “chess match” side of football.
With several key starters returning on offense, he is optimistic about the team’s potential, but he also knows that potential isn’t enough. “I’m a process-driven person, and I believe if you trust the process and attack the process, results will follow,” Howard said. “Success comes from consistent, daily effort. If we trust and attack the process each and every day and do what we’re supposed to do, then we will give ourselves a chance to win every week.
“We still have a lot to work on before the season begins, and we need to be more consistent in the details of each play. We have to get better at understanding situational football and making better decisions in those moments.”
For Howard, the move to offensive coordinator is an opportunity he’s been waiting for.
“I was wanting to get back to being an OC, and the opportunity was given to me, so it was a pretty easy decision,” he said. “It’s been great [working under Coach James]. He does a great job letting his coaches loose and not micromanaging but allowing them the freedom to coach. Anytime you can work for a coach that has his experience is great. When different situations come up, good and bad, he’s probably already gone through it, so I’m just learning from how he’s handled those moments.”
As the season approaches, the focus is on execution and consistency. With a new offensive coordinator who has deep roots in Conway and a clear vision for an explosive, balanced offense, the Wampus Cats are hopeful this new era can help lead them over the hump and to a state championship.
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