Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - The Farmington Knights Athletic Department has announced the hiring of a new football head coach. Eckley was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2022.
Eckley has spent 11 seasons coaching the Jackson Indians. While at Jackson Eckley compiled a total record of 102-27 that included a State Championship in 2020 with a 14-0 record, six district titles, and a second place finish in Missouri in 2019 with the lone loss that season at the Championship Game in overtime.
According to a press release from the Farmington R-7 School District, Eckley has over 25 years of head coaching experience with an overall coaching record of 207-77.
“After competing against Farmington for several years, I have a high level of respect for the program. The players are physical and disciplined. We aim to build on the success the program has had.” Eckley stated in the press release. “I’m most excited about being where the schools and activities are a primary focus – where the success of the students and the programs are important.”
Eckley retired from Jackson in 2023 and spent the last two seasons as the head coach of Springdale Har-Ber in Arkansas. In two seasons his teams went 4-18.
Eckley replaces Erik Kruppe who stepped down from the head coaching position in December after a 5-5 record in 2024.