Vultures Circling: Arkansas
By: Mike Huesmann
In conjunction with my coaches hot seat list, I want to dive into who could be targeted for these schools. Firing a coach is one thing, but if you don’t hire the right replacement who has a plan, you’ll never take that step up. I will be doing weekly articles on possible coaches for current bosses on the hot seat, where the vultures are circling.
Possible Candidates to Replace Sam Pittman
Pittman pulled Arkansas from the depths of the Chad Morris years. The job and program are much better now than when he took over. That is one mark of a good coach. However, there is some feeling that he has reached his ceiling and that the Hogs will not take that next step with him in charge.
Going into 2023, I felt that Pittman would be around for 2024 unless a doomsday scenario occurred. Well, that scenario may very well be unfolding. Arkansas sits at 2-6 with no SEC wins. A bowl game seems like an unreachable dream at this point, and 3-9 looks realistic if they lose to Auburn. Rocket Sanders hasn’t been healthy all year, and K.J. Jefferson looks to have regressed and isn’t the guy some thought he could turn into. If Arkansas makes a change, here are five options.
Gus Malzahn, UCF
Gus has been mentioned for this job before. He’s an Arkansas guy and was a former OC in Fayetteville. Things were complicated in the past by him being at a fellow SEC West school, but no more. UCF is now in a P5 conference, but the $2.3 million they pay Malzahn is probably about one-third of what he’d make in Fayetteville. Plus, there’s the homecoming feel to this. He’d be my favorite for the job if it opened tomorrow.
Jonathan Smith, Oregon State
Smith is an Oregon State guy, he played there and has been an assistant and head coach there. That’s basically all the Beavers have going for them.
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Arkansas would triple his salary, and they can capitalize on the conference insecurity he faces with the Beavs. He is winning games, Arkansas would be happy with his style of football, and he has been able to recruit and get talent to Corvallis. Smith would be a good hire for any P5 school in the market.
Urban Meyer
He is arrogant and aloof on his best days, unlikeable and repugnant on his worst. He is also the second most successful college coach of the last 25 years. A proven winner at four colleges who has improved every team significantly, conquered all, and has results above reproach.
This brings up two questions: does Urban want to coach again? And, if so, would Arkansas be a job he’d want? The Hogs are competitive, tough, and in most games. But that may not be enough anymore. Winning important games in the SEC West has to happen. There is some sense of plateauing here, and wondering if they could take the next step forward under Urban, which they could not do under Morris, Bielema, or Nutt and haven’t under Pittman so far. Urban Meyer checks all the boxes and has taken teams to where Arkansas wants to be.
Dec 3, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; FOX Sports analyst Urban Meyer before the Big Ten Championship between the Michigan Wolverines and the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium.
© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Traylor, UTSA
If you want a coach with roots and connections in Arkansas, who can also recruit Texas, then look no further than Traylor. He had tremendous success as a high school coach in TX before jumping to SMU and later Arkansas as a Chad Morris lieutenant.
At UTSA, he has proven adept in all areas of running a program. 43-13 over three years plus, and a bowl game every year speaks for itself. A slower start this year at 4-3 will be forgotten if they go on a winning streak. This is highly possible, considering the slew of injuries he’s faced so far.
Jon Sumrall, Troy
The former Kentucky and Ole Miss assistant has barely put a foot wrong in two seasons for Troy. 12-2 last year with a bowl win and 5-2 so far in 2023 with the Trojans looking like an elite defense. His staff are also vastly experienced at the P5 level. With no previous ties to Troy, I would not imagine this is Sumrall’s destination job. His defensive prowess and SEC experience will be enticing for the Hogs.
