In the South, football is a love language and Charlie Strong speaks it. The Arkansas native is currently the head football coach at the University of South Florida, and has a resume full of stints at multiple college football programs around the country, most notably as head coach at the University of Louisville and then at the University of Texas.
But before all of that, Coach Strong hailed from Batesville and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 1982. And on April 29, he’ll be celebrated at UCA’s seventh annual Night of Distinction, along with fellow honorees Herby Branscum Jr. and Sue Voegele.
We caught up with Coach Strong before he revisits his old stomping grounds next month, and here’s what he had to say.
When you visit in April, what’s on your to-do list while you’re here?
Nothing too special on the agenda. I will see some friends and old acquaintances that I haven’t seen in a long time. It’s been a while since I’ve been back, so I will enjoy catching up with them.
What were your favorite restaurants in the Conway/Little Rock area?
The one that stands out the most is Cache Restaurant in Little Rock’s River Market.
Are you involved with any nonprofits? If so, which ones and why is their work important?
Anything to do with kids with cancer. The reason is we all feel like we have problems and issues, but what they have to go through every day — the medicine, the shots, etc. — and they just go about life and never worry about it. They don’t know what they’ll be facing every day. I just love their passion about life, and more than anything they’re just so involved in how they continue to work through what happens to them. No particular organization, but I try to go by the children’s hospital in whatever town I’m in.
What do you miss most about Arkansas?
It’s been a while since I’ve been back there, but I go back to my childhood days. Like growing up in Batesville and going to school at UCA, it really was my foundation. It allowed me to have the opportunities and success I have now because of where I came from. Being able to take everything that I learned from those days and put it to use, that’s what it’s all about to me. You can believe in yourself and get things done.
What’s in Tampa that you think we could use in Little Rock?
Maybe water or beaches … Haha. Tampa is a really nice city, but so is Little Rock. I really like what they’ve done with the River Market area.
Lightning Round:
TV show you can’t get enough of: Honestly, I don’t have time to watch TV. I see “The Voice” every now and then and enjoy that.
Song you have on repeat: Anything by John Legend
Last good book you read: “O Great One” by David Novak
Favorite workout: I love running. I run 5 miles every morning.
Guilty pleasure food: Ice cream. Plain chocolate. Every day I have to have ice cream, a scoop of ice cream or a shake.
To get your tickets to UCA’s Night of Distinction event, click here.