Conway School Board Dismisses Head Basketball Coach Following Investigation

The Conway School Board voted 5-2 Thursday night to terminate Head Boys Basketball Coach Ben Lindsey after an investigation into his use of a racial slur during a team practice earlier this fall.

The incident occurred on October 3 during practice when Lindsey, who is white, used the word while reprimanding players for their own use of profanity and inappropriate language. He was placed on paid administrative leave on October 7. According to testimony shared during the roughly five-and-a-half-hour hearing, Lindsey did not issue an apology until October 21.

Board members Dr. David Naylor Jr. and Linda Hargis voted against termination, while the remaining members, including all four Black board members and one white member, Trip Leach, voted in favor of dismissal, a recommendation made by Interim Superintendent Jason Black.

During his statement at the hearing, Lindsey said he did not intend to offend anyone and was attempting to correct student behavior.

District Attorney Shastady Wagner stated that no one accused Lindsey of being racist, but questioned whether he would respond differently in the future. Lindsey said he would likely use an abbreviation of the word next time rather than saying it outright.

Athletic Director Greg Hughes testified that while Lindsey was trying to guide his players to act appropriately, using the racial term was unacceptable. Hughes said 16 of the 17 players on the team are Black, and that some students were visibly upset by the incident. One parent reportedly told him, “These words should not be said to our kids.”

Hughes emphasized that Lindsey never directed the slur at any individual but said its use in any context caused understandable frustration and disappointment. He also noted that the delayed apology made the situation worse.

Superintendent Black agreed that Lindsey did not appear to have used the word maliciously, but said an earlier apology could have helped resolve the matter before it escalated.

Assistant Coach Nick Harrell testified that in his experience, he had never heard a coach use that word during practice and said he felt “ashamed” when it happened.

Background on Ben Lindsey’s Hiring:

Ben Lindsey was hired as Conway High School’s head boys basketball coach prior to this season after several highly successful years leading the Magnolia High School program.

At Magnolia, Lindsey compiled an extraordinary record of 127 wins and just six losses, including back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2020 and 2022 that culminated in state championships. His teams also won multiple conference titles, and he earned 4A Coach of the Year honors several times.

Before his time at Magnolia, Lindsey served as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri, contributing to a record-setting 31-7 season in 2009. That team captured the Big 12 Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

When Conway announced his hiring, school officials praised Lindsey’s leadership and record of success, expressing excitement about what he would bring to the Wampus Cat basketball program.