7/17/2026 - As the Arkansas Summer begins to heat up, so does the anticipation for another season of high school football. Claude Johnson, Marion's new head football coach, has visited with several state and local media outlets to introduce himself, his team, and his philosophies to the Natural State.
VARSITY VIBE ARKANSAS - The media tour began back in April when Coach Johnson met with Varsity Vibe Arkansas, a statewide digital media outlet focused on Arkansas high school sports. He and host Alyssa Orange discussed many topics, including his hiring at Marion and his coaching mindset.
MARION PATRIOTS ACTIVITIES NETWORK - Coach Johnson sat down with Marion's own media team, the Marion Patriots Activities Network, in an interview released just before the Patriot Football Spring game.
BIG MILLER MEDIA DAYS - The latest stop on the media tour was in Little Rock for the Big Miller Media Days, one of the largest preseason high school football shows in the state of Arkansas. The event is named in honor of Kevin "Big" Miller, a respected sports media journalist who passed away in 2024.
This time, Coach Johnson shared the spotlight with senior players Jeremiah Dent, Walt Tucker Jr., Colton Kimbel, and Chase Davis. The interview is in the video below; Marion's time begins at the 1:59:40 mark.
The Patriots will host Mountain Home for the annual benefit game at Southern Bancorp Stadium on August 21. The 2026 varsity football season officially begins on August 28 at Wynne as the Pats add another chapter to their rivalry with the Yellowjackets.