| Ken Stephens | |
| Birth Date: | 2 April 1931 |
| Birth Place: | Conway, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Conway, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Player Sport1: | Football |
| Player Years2: | 1949–1951 |
| Player Team2: | Arkansas State Teachers |
| Player Sport3: | Track and field |
| Player Team4: | Arkansas State Teachers |
| Player Positions: | Defensive back (football) |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1952 |
| Coach Team2: | Crossett HS (AR) (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 1953 |
| Coach Team3: | Bethany HS (OK) |
| Coach Years4: | 1956–1957 |
| Coach Team4: | Walnut Ridge HS (AR) |
| Coach Years5: | 1958–1959 |
| Coach Team5: | Conway HS (AR) |
| Coach Years6: | 1960 |
| Coach Team6: | Arkansas State (assistant) |
| Coach Years7: | 1962 |
| Coach Team7: | Morrilton HS (AR) |
| Coach Years8: | 1963–1970 |
| Coach Team8: | North Little Rock HS (AR) |
| Coach Years9: | 1971 |
| Coach Team9: | Arkansas (assistant) |
| Coach Years10: | 1972–1981 |
| Coach Team10: | State College of Arkansas / Central Arkansas |
| Coach Years11: | 1982–1985 |
| Coach Team11: | Lamar |
| Coach Years12: | 1986–1992 |
| Coach Team12: | Arkansas Tech |
| Coach Years13: | 2001–2004 |
| Coach Team13: | Ranger |
| Coach Sport14: | Golf |
| Coach Years15: | 2000 |
| Coach Team15: | Central Arkansas |
| Overall Record: | 106–106–8 (college football) |
| Tournament Record: | Football 1–4 (NAIA D-I playoffs) |
| Championships: | Football 4 AIC (1976, 1978, 1980–1981) |
Kenneth Gene Stephens (April 2, 1931 – August 28, 2023) was an American football coach.[1] He served as head coach of the University of Central Arkansas from 1972 to 1981 Lamar University from 1982 to 1985, and Arkansas Tech University from 1986 to 1992, compiling a career college football coaching record of 106–106–8.[2]
Stephens was a graduate of Central Arkansas, where he played as a defensive back and still holds the record for interceptions in a game with five. Stephens also competed in track and field, where he was the NAIA runner-up in the 120-yard hurdles in 1951 and 1952.[3] He began his coaching career at the high school level, winning three state championships at North Little Rock, Arkansas, before moving on the Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas as an assistant. He was appointed head coach at his alma mater in 1972. In 10 seasons, Stephens built a 67–35–6 record at Central Arkansas, third-best in school history only to his two successors, winning four Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles and taking the Bears to four NAIA playoffs, the first in school history.
In 1982, Stephens went on to coach at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, but resigned in 1985 after four consecutive losing seasons.[4] He then became head coach at Arkansas Tech, spending seven seasons there before retiring in 1992. Stephens returned to coaching in 2001, taking over as head coach at Ranger College in Ranger, Texas, for four seasons.
On February 28, 2014, Stephens was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.[5]
Stephens died in Conway on August 28, 2023, at the age of 92.[6]