Joe Spatafora, a name that has become synonymous with high school football excellence in the Ark-La-Mont region, is packing his playbooks and heading to Monticello, Arkansas, where he will assume the role of head coach for the Drew Central Wildcats.
During his tenure at Union Parish, Spatafora transformed the program into a perennial powerhouse, capturing state championships in 2013 and 2023 and finishing as runner‑up in three consecutive seasons from 2020 through 2022, a record that places him among the most successful coaches in recent state history.
His overall record of 179 wins against just 74 defeats reflects a winning percentage that has consistently kept the team in the conversation for top rankings, and the community has rallied around his offensive schemes that blend traditional power running with modern spread concepts.
A Strategic Partnership
Alongside Spatafora, former Arcadia head coach Demitri Carr has joined the staff, bringing his own pedigree of strategic innovation and player development, and many observers view Carr as the natural successor should Spatafora decide to step back from day‑to‑day coaching.
The move signals a new chapter for Drew Central, a program that has shown steady growth in recent years and now hopes to capitalize on the experience and winning culture that Spatafora brings, aiming to restore the school to the upper echelon of Arkansas high school football.