Well, sort of.
As we noted exactly a week ago today, and for the second consecutive year, Arkansas State planned to auction off the privilege to serve as the head coach of the Red Wolves’ spring game this coming Friday. In a twist from last year, the winning bidder will be permitted to select a friend or family member to coach the opposing squad.
Monday night, ASU announced the individual who placed the winning bid, and it is, in its own quirky way, a historic bidder: Arkansas native Angie Gallaher, with a winning bid of $8,700. The winning bid in 2014, from then-25-year-old California tech exec Nick Bhardwaj, was $11,700 for those keeping score at home.
As for what the Arkansas-based owner of a realty company will receive in exchange for her winning bid...As the head coach, she will draft her team members, give the pregame and halftime talk to her team and determine if they ‘go for it’ or punt on fourth downs. Gallaher will receive photos and video of her coaching experience, wear official A-State coaching gear and, if she leads her team to a victory, receive a Powerade bath as part of her bragging rights.
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The owner of United Country-Scenic Rivers Realty in Imboden, Ark., which is a sponsor of the ‘Live with Blake Anderson’ radio show, will also receive a mock one-day contract from [athletic director Terry] Mohajir at the press conference and be issued an A-State jersey with her name embroidered on the back. Gallaher and her husband, Allen, moved to Jonesboro in 2006, and the self-proclaimed sports fanatic is a Red Wolves Foundation member and A-State football season tickets holder.
The man who will “cede” his coaching duties is once again pleased with what’s really a very cool opportunity that the football program is affording fans. And the history is not lost on the coach, either.
“We are excited to have the first female FBS head coach in the nation, which will give us a pretty unique twist to our spring game, and we can’t wait to get her more involved,” said A-State head football coach Blake Anderson in a statement. “Angie is a big-time supporter of our program and a huge fan, so it will be a lot of fun for our staff, players and fans to have someone so familiar with our team taking on this role.”