CAMDEN — By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports editor
Harmony Grove has found its new head football coach and only had to go 12 miles down the road to do so.
Ernie Horstkamp will take over as the head Hornets after 14 years in the Bearden Bear Football program. Horstkamp has served as the head football coach and the athletic director of the Bears for the last seven years, leading the team to a state championship appearance and conference titles.
Horstkamp said Friday was “emotional” when he informed his students that he was going to Harmony Grove.
“That was the hardest part,” Horstkamp said. “I’ve made some great friends here and the bond that I have with the kids is deep.”
Horstkamp said that he was happy with his job at Bearden and that the movie to Harmony Grove just seemed like the right move. He will now be able to focus on just coaching football instead of athletic director duties.
Horstkamp is taking over for Tony Chambers who will depart H.G. at the end of the school year for a job with the Bismark School District.