As the head coach at Maryville High School, George Quarles has a strong connection to Tennessee football. He also has a former quarterback, Cade Thompson, playing for South Carolina.

But his interest in the SEC now extends all the way to Fayetteville, Ark. And it's unrelated to proximity or players.

It's all about coaching.

Quarles is one of the best high school coaches in Tennessee. He's arguably one of the best high school coaches in the country.

He has won five state championships in six seasons. And when UT had an opening for an offensive coordinator, some fans touted Quarles for the job.

Imagine that: A high school coach with no college experience assuming command of an SEC offense. Ridiculous, huh?

Tell that to Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, whose job is on the line after back-to-back losing seasons. With the heat on, Nutt relinquished his play-calling duties and hired a high school coach as his offensive coordinator.

Gus Malzahn, 40, has coached the last five years at Springdale High School, a few miles from the University of Arkansas. His last team went 14-0 and outscored its opponents 664-118. He has a reputation as a brilliant offensive coach and innovative play caller, yet he has never coached a down of college football.

Sound familiar?

Quarles, 39, has not only maintained a football powerhouse at Maryville, he has wowed fans and mystified opponents with his imaginative play-calling. He has had opportunities to coach in college, but none like the one given Malzahn.

"I was a little surprised at first, because that just doesn't happen very often," Quarles said. "But if this guy can do it, I think other high school guys can, too."

Quarles wondered if Malzahn got the job because his star quarterback, Mitch Mustain, was being recruited -- and eventually signed -- with Arkansas. He was pleased to hear Malzahn wasn't riding his quarterback's coattails, but was instead hired to run the Arkansas offense.

The Razorbacks didn't just hire a high school coach. They added a huge high school fan base. You think Quarles isn't pulling for the Razorbacks this fall? So is every other high school coach in the country.

"Because you're a high school coach, some people think you're not as good a coach," Quarles said. "But some coaches have chosen to be high school coaches. That doesn't necessarily mean they're worse coaches."

Of course, it doesn't. It's the same game on the same field with the same ball. Sure, your opponents have bigger, faster players. But so do you.

Funny how no one thinks anything of coaches moving from college to the NFL. But when you propose a high school coach going from high school to college, it's as though you're suggesting interplanetary travel.

Quarles, the family man, likes his life just the way it is. He knows the demands of a college job might cut into the time he spends with his 2-year-old son, Jack. He also couldn't handle the step-by-step progression up the coaching ladder.

"The way it often works, you have to be a (graduate assistant) first," Quarles said. "I would have to take a huge pay cut. I can't afford to do that."

But Quarles, the coach, doesn't close the door on college.

"I haven't ruled it out," he said. "Not if a great opportunity came along."

If the opportunity never comes, Quarles won't feel cheated. He loves coaching high school football. And he loves watching the college game. Not surprisingly, he favors offensive gurus.

He enjoyed Southern Cal when Norm Chow was calling the plays. Charlie Weis, the head coach and offensive play caller at Notre Dame, is another favorite. So is South Carolina's Steve Spurrier.

But none of them will mean as much to Quarles as a former high school coach at Springdale, Ark.

After all, Malzahn isn't just calling plays for the Razorbacks. He's calling them for every high school coach in the country.