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

The Des Arc Lady Eagles have a new head coach and one with Division 1 playing experience.

Bailee Day was hired by the Des Arc School Board to replace Allie Banks, who left after one season to become girls coach at Mt. Vernon-Enola.

Day is originally from Lakeland, Florida. She played basketball at the University of Alabama-Birmingham from 2015-17 before transferring to Auburn University at Montgomery where she played ball and earned her degree in business in 2019. After graduating from college, she moved to Fayetteville to be closer to her father, where she met her husband Juan, who was hired as an assistant football coach at Des Arc.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Lady Eagles basketball program,” Bailee Day said. “I want our players, parents and community to know that I am full committed to helping our student-athletes grow both on and off the court. My goal is to build a program that our school and community can be proud of — one that values hard work, character, relationships and competitive excellence. We are excited to get started and can’t wait to be a part of the Des Arc community.”

Day started her coaching career as a volunteer at Russellville in 2022. She got her master’s degree in teaching then was hired as the seventh- and eighth-grade girls coach at Sylvan Hills. She coached there for two years before coming an assistant coach at Jacksonville High School last season. Des Arc will be her first head-coaching position.

“I was actively looking for a head-coaching opportunity and applied at Des Arc,” Day said. “During the interview process, I was asked if my husband would be interested in coming as well. My husband and I previously worked together at Sylvan Hills and had always hoped that one day we would have the opportunity to be at the same school again.

“For us, it was a no-brainer. We knew Des Arc would be a great opportunity not only professionally but for our family. We get to work alongside each other every day doing what we love most, and that means everything to us.”

A year ago under Banks’ leadership, the Lady Eagles finished 12-14, losing to Carlisle in the district tournament, missing the regional tournament. The Lady Eagles had finished fourth in the regular-season standings, behind Barton, England and Marianna. However, the Lady Eagles beat England once during conference play.

“I have a lot of respect for what has already been built at Des Arc, but my goal is to take the program to the next level,” Day said. “We want to build a championship-caliber program that competes for conference championships, makes deep postseason runs and ultimately competes for state championships. That starts with creating a culture build on accountability, discipline and hard work. If our players are committed to improving every day and doing the little things right, I believe we can build something special that the school and community can be proud of.”

Des Arc superintendent Marc Sherrell said Day will be “a blessing to our basketball program.”

“She has the experience as a D1 player as well as coaching experience and a terrific attitude that will inspire our girls to give their best effort,” he said.

Bailey and Juan Day have a 3-year-old daughter Blayke.