Our Arklahoma Heritage: A prep star from Pope County thrived as a high school and college assistant coach
- Dennis McCaslin
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Wilson David Matthews was born on July 18, 1921, in the small rural town of Atkins in Pope County. His parents were Andy Omer Matthews and Esther Sproles Matthews.
He grew up in a modest setting typical of early 20th-century life in the area and attended Atkins High School, where he played varsity football under coach Raymond Rip Burnett and earned two-time All-State honors.
After high school, Matthews played football at Arkansas Tech before transferring to the University of Arkansas in 1942. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy V-12 officer training program and played for the Monticello Marine-Navy team. He went on to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education from the University of Arkansas.
Matthews launched his coaching career in 1944 as head football coach at Rogers High School, where his team posted a 7-3 record in his only season there. He then joined Little Rock High School, later known as Little Rock Central High School, as an assistant under his former coach Burnett.
Promoted to head coach in 1947, Matthews built a powerhouse program over the next 11 seasons. His teams compiled an extraordinary record of 111 wins, 14 losses, and 3 ties for a winning percentage of .887.
They captured 10 Arkansas state championships, including undefeated seasons in 1956 and 1957. The 1957 squad was later recognized retrospectively as a national champion, and the program enjoyed a notable 33-game winning streak. Matthews emphasized discipline, rigorous conditioning, and teamwork.
He mentored players personally, often helping them secure college scholarships. During the intense 1957 Central High School desegregation crisis, he kept his team focused by issuing a firm ultimatum against any disruptions.
In January 1958, Matthews joined the staff of legendary head coach Frank Broyles at the University of Arkansas. He coached defensive ends and linebackers until around 1969 and then worked with the freshman team until 1973. He played a key role in the Razorbacks' success, including the 1964 national championship season recognized by the Football Writers Association of America and appearances in eight bowl games.
He also pioneered an influential off-season conditioning program. In 1973, Matthews transitioned to administration, serving first as assistant athletic director and later as associate athletic director until his retirement in 1992.
Over more than four decades at the university, he implemented a priority seating system for games that boosted contributions to the Razorback Foundation and strengthened statewide fan support. He turned down head coaching opportunities elsewhere to stay loyal to Arkansas.
Matthews married Martha Lou Gauldin on June 1, 1947. The couple had three sons: David, Scott, and Bruce. After he joined the University of Arkansas staff, the family settled in Fayetteville, where they lived for the rest of his life.
Matthews received numerous honors, including induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Razorback Hall of Honor, the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction, and the Arkansas High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
He was named a Distinguished American by the Arkansas chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. The assistant coach figure on the Broyles Award trophy is modeled after him, and a plaque honors him under the scoreboard at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Wilson Matthews died on the night of May 12 or 13, 2002, at age 80 in Fayetteville. A memorial service was held at the First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, followed by graveside services at Oakland Cemetery in Atkins, where he was buried alongside family members.
Frank Broyles paid tribute to him as the man who taught him how to be a true Arkansawyer and called his passing a tremendous loss for the state, the university, and the Razorback family.
Matthews left behind his three sons and four grandchildren. His legacy endures through the players he coached, the programs he strengthened, and the standards of integrity and dedication he set for Arkansas football.
