Editor’s note: Mark Buffalo, Grand Prairie Herald Sports Editor, is the author of this report.

New Hazen Lady Hornets basketball coach Brandon Patterson is excited for the opportunity to lead the program in his first year as coach.

Patterson, a graduate of Mayflower High School, was recently hired to replace Lucas Tenison, who left to become an assistant football coach at Bald Knob High School.

Patterson was a key player on the Mayflower basketball team’s state runner-up finish in the 2021 Class 3A state tournament. He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and did a coaching-teaching internship at Woodland Junior High in Fayetteville.

“I think, as a recent college graduate, the thing you are thinking about is you are looking for a job,” Patterson said. “You are searching and searching, and you will take whatever you can get, but I was kind of on a little bit of a cold streak with job applications. I saw Hazen had popped up. It said email the school directly. I thought ‘what do I have to lose?’

“I just need someone to take a chance on me. If I get that opportunity, I won’t let them down,”

Patterson said he emailed Hazen Superintendent Andy Barrett, who set up an interview.

“I kid you not … it was probably the most surreal experience,” Patterson said. “I was driving back from Hazen to Fayetteville. I’m just outside West Fork. He [Barrett] calls me and said, ‘we interviewed someone for the job, but I think we’re going with you. Would you like the job?’”

Patterson said he almost had to pull the car onto the side of the highway.

“It was the Lord answering my prayer,” he said. “To be in a town like Hazen, I”m all excited for it. I know the team struggled a little bit last year. But I’m looking to change the culture and program like Coach Totty is.”

Patterson was referring to new Hazen football coach Clay Totty.

The 2026-27 season will be the third consecutive season that Hazen has had a girls team after going several years without one because of lack of participation.

“I’ve always described myself as a program builder,” Patterson said. “I always want to build a program up and stay around a while, not just have a couple of good seasons and disappear. I think, when you are a coach, a lot of times they will try to get into the business side of it, which is about their name and their image. I’m the opposite. I’m here for developing relationships with the community, building athletes, not only to be better athletes but to also be better people. That’s what I’m really committed to and hope that I can bring a change to Hazen.”

Being from a small town in Mayflower, Patterson sees similarities to Hazen.

“This is almost like a carbon copy of Mayflower,” he said. “You’ve got your gas station on the interstate. The next thing you got is your school. I like this atmosphere and environment. Everybody knows everybody. It just makes it a little easier transition to going into being a coach when you already have that background of being from a small town.”

Patterson said he wanted to play college basketball.

“When I realized that opportunity wasn’t going to happen, I made the decision that it’s bigger than me,” he said. “My motto for my whole program here in Hazen is that it’s bigger than all of us. You represent the name on the front of your jersey. There’s no name on the back. You represent your school and community. My biggest thing is to give back. That is why I became a coach.”

Patterson’s high school basketball coach, Brent Stallings at Mayflower, said Patterson will do well at Hazen.

“Brandon is just a great young man,” Stallings said. “He’s been that way the entire time I’ve known him. He’s a hard worker. He learns quickly. He’s willing to do whatever it takes. He’s a great team player. As far as an individual, Hazen is getting a great individual over there. He will set a great example for the entire student body.

“I’m excited for him. He’s just right out of school. These days, it’s not easy to get a job. I’m excited for his opportunity to get over here and get busy right off the bat. Hopefully, he’ll build a solid program and get it rolling.”

Marilyn Bauer, the girls basketball coach at Woodlawn in Fayetteville, spoke highly of Patterson.

“He does an excellent job of building relationships with players,” she said. “He is very loyal and doesn’t mind stepping in and taking on any responsibility. He has a high IQ in sports, especially. Hazen is very fortunate to get him. He will you proud as a person and a coach.”