Leader of the Pack

As the Salt Bowl returns home to Saline County this year, it brings with it more than a change in venue—it marks a new era for Benton Panther athletics. Stepping into the spotlight is longtime coach, state champion, and Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, Jerry Bridges, who now serves as the Benton School District’s new athletic director.

With a career spanning over three decades in education, Coach Bridges is no stranger to building winning programs. For 29 of his 33 years in public education, he led high school basketball teams across the state, capturing multiple state titles and fostering lifelong impact among the student-athletes he coached.

From his early coaching days at Mena Junior High to championship runs at Caddo Hills, Morrilton, Fort Smith Southside, and Cabot, Bridges has carved out a legendary path. Perhaps none of his victories meant more than the 2016 state championship in Cabot—a hard-fought win over a star-studded Bentonville team. That night, his father sat in the stands for what would be the final game he’d ever see.

“That win was special,” Bridges reflects. “It was for my dad. He passed away three months later. Basketball was big in our family, and it meant everything to share that moment with him. He went to heaven a state champion.”

His father, Jack Bridges, coached basketball for 40 years. A graduate of Lakeside High School, Coach Bridges played basketball for his dad during his high school tenure. He graduated in 1985 from Ouachita Baptist University where he was 4-year letterman on the men’s basketball team. He earned his master’s in administration from the University of Central Arkansas in 1997.

After retiring from coaching in 2018, Coach Bridges stepped away from the court to run his family’s business, the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo. He and his wife, Lori, have four children: Jack, Jaylin, Jenna, and their bonus son, Jacob Hudson. He enjoys spending time hunting, fishing, and spending time at Lake Ouachita with his family.

The pull of athletics—and the promise of something special in Benton—brought him back to the workforce.

“Benton is a very good school district with excellent programs, strong facilities, and a community that truly supports its athletes and all of our athletic programs,” he says. “We have some very good coaches leading our young people. There’s a shared understanding here that athletics help shape the whole student. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

While his resume speaks for itself, it’s not the wins or titles that drive Bridges. It’s relationships with coaches, with students, and with the community.

“I’m most excited about building relationships,” he says. “Even in just a short time here, I’ve been welcomed by an incredible team. I have enjoyed meeting our coaches, administrators, and all the people at the central office. I can’t wait for school to start and for the kids to come back. That’s what it’s all about.”

A Salt Bowl to Remember

As excitement builds for this year’s Salt Bowl, Coach Bridges is thrilled to experience it from the inside.

“From the outside looking in, I’ve been aware of the excitement that the game generates for Saline County. I’ve known what a huge deal the Salt Bowl is to the community,” he says. “This year, I get to be a small part of it. And I’m thrilled that we’re hosting in our beautiful stadium.”

Though Benton’s venue won’t match the 30,000+ capacity of War Memorial Stadium, Bridges believes the electric atmosphere will more than make up for it. 

“We won’t have as many folks as War Memorial could hold, but our stands will be packed. It’ll be standing room only, and the energy will be incredible as the players really feel the crowd and the environment it creates. This is a night our kids will remember forever.”

Looking Ahead

As Benton’s new athletic director, Coach Bridges is committed to building on a strong foundation.

“We already have great programs and outstanding coaches. My job is to support them, provide the resources they need, and continue moving forward,” he says. “Our facilities are second to none, and our student-athletes deserve the very best.”

When asked about his Hall of Fame recognition, Coach Bridges is quick to shift the spotlight.

“It’s all God,” he says. “I’ve been blessed to coach amazing student-athletes, work with passionate assistants, and serve under supportive administrators. It’s never been a ‘me’ thing—it’s always been a ‘we’ thing.”

As the Salt Bowl approaches and the Panthers gear up for a season of competition, Benton has more than a new athletic director—it has a proven leader, a passionate mentor, and a coach who knows what it means to build champions on and off the field.

“I have only been on the clock a short time here, but I feel I am surrounded by some outstanding people. I am very fortunate and grateful for this opportunity,” Bridges says. “Go Panthers.”