10 questions
Story & Photography By Susan O'Connor

Balancing a demanding career with motherhood is inherently difficult. Jonesboro attorney Raney Coleman blends the two gracefully.

“I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer,” she said with a smile. “Mom and Dad said I’ve talked about it since age seven.”

A Jonesboro High School graduate, Raney earned a degree in political science from Ole Miss. After her Ole Miss graduation, she returned to Jonesboro for several months before the start of law school at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. It was then that friends set her up with her future husband, Randy Coleman.

Four years her senior, Randy was head football coach at Annie Camp Junior High School at the time, as well as baseball and basketball coach. They dated for 10 months, then Raney ended the relationship. It was time to go to law school. It was time to pursue her dream. The couple didn’t talk during her first two years in Fayetteville.

But the two were meant to be together. They married in 2003, the weekend after her graduation from law school. A book of love letters chronicles their story. From letters to notes on napkins, to a ring made out of sticky tape, they plan to give the book to their daughter, three-year-old McKenley, some day.
Now, the two are busy blending work and family. Raney practices law for the firm Womack, Landis, Phelps and McNeill where she specializes in family law and medical malpractice defense. Randy is the head football coach at JHS.

“If Randy’s highlight is Friday nights, mine is court. I love the dynamics of it — the interactions with judges, the cross examinations — I know it is the most scary for a lot of people, but it is just the most fun to me,” she said.
Raney balances her role as a tough attorney with that of a coach’s wife, which isn’t easy, especially during football season. She has sought advice and inspiration from Arkansas State University football coach Steve Roberts and his wife, Sherry.

“If people tell you wins and losses don’t matter, it’s not true. If we are on a winning streak, things are good at the Coleman house,” Raney said. “The whole coach’s wife thing is a challenge. With every year, we handle it better. I hope I can handle it with more grace every year.”

What is the most important lesson about life that the practice of law has taught you? I think that most people do not anticipate they will have any experience with the judicial system outside of jury duty. In the realm of family law, no one anticipates divorce on their wedding day. I think issues start small and snowball. No marriage is perfect and it is hard work. This area of practice has opened my eyes in my own marriage and encouraged me to communicate more at home and try to stay connected.

What did they fail to teach you in law school that every lawyer needs to know? It sounds bad, but empathy. When you study law, you study theories on paper. It is very academic. You read all day long about child custody, divorce or medical malpractice — but it is a whole new ballgame when you look in the face of someone fighting for their child, grieving the loss of a marriage or facing allegations of wrongdoing. You have to be both empathetic and objective.

If you had to choose another career, what would it be? A stay-at-home mom.

What is your favorite television show about a law firm? I don’t have one. I have a tendency to point out what they are doing wrong to my husband. I turn into the person in the movie theater who talks through the whole thing. I do like John Grisham movies. “A Time to Kill” is my favorite.

Did you know anything about football when you married Randy? No, ha! I was a cheerleader in junior high and high school, so you would think I would know the basics. My dad tells a great story of the years when I was captain, he would have to give me hand signals to know if we were on offense or defense!

What is the most difficult thing about being the wife of a coach? The lack of time would be the most difficult, especially with a small child. We drive by JHS and McKenley will say, “That’s Daddy’s home.” We have an adjustment period at the beginning of every season. Randy is a very devoted Daddy, so it is a drastic change when the season starts.

After a painful loss on the football field, what is the best way to cheer up your husband? Send in McKenley. They have a very special relationship and she can always cheer him up.

When football season is over, how do both of you unwind? We go to the lake, to my parents’ farm or play outside as a family. We have a lot of time to make up. Life is so busy for everyone that you really have to make an effort to stay connected to your family.

You are very much a southern lady. Do you think we are failing as a society to pass along these important traits to our daughters? Yes, we are failing to pass along these traits. Call me old fashioned, but I think ladies should be ladies and gentlemen should be gentlemen. Our differences should be celebrated. We are raising a wonderful generation of girls who are very bright and independent. We are competitive with men in every aspect of life. We do need to remember, however, that you can be both aggressive and graceful; goal oriented and lady-like.

What is your greatest hope for McKenley? First and foremost, I hope she has a personal relationship with God and a strong faith. I had a very loving and nurturing relationship with my parents growing up and I have no doubt that I am the person that I am today because of the love and support that I received at home. I hope that Randy and I can nurture her strengths and be supportive in her choices.