What’s On The Menu: Arkansas Next Football Coach

We at Last Word described the thrashing of Arkansas by Notre Dame in week five. As we alluded to at the end, change was coming. Less than 24 hours later, the university announced that Sam Pittman had been relieved of his duties as head coach at Arkansas. Included in the release from the Razorbacks was the announcement that current offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino was named as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. While the news did not put the nation in neck braces, it does beg to question who is next. We ask this differently. What is on the menu for the Arkansas football program?

What Is Left On The Plate?

Before we look at the new menu, we need to finish what is on our plates. Arkansas is paying the $9.8 million buyout, which will only begin to cover the money spent to make the change. This is “Necessary to put our student-athletes and program in the best position to be successful,” as Hunter Yurachek stated in the release. The Arkansas AD went on to say, “The goal for our football program is to be highly competitive within the Southeastern Conference and compete for a national championship,” which we find odd considering just a few weeks back, Yurachek said the complete opposite of his football program and doubled down on this with NIL as the reason. With the statement in the release, could we assume the AD has pants on fire from pressure and now will get into that “Left Lane” of immorality of college athletics with Pittman gone? Yurachek promised a “National search” that includes Petrino, who reportedly “Expressed interest”. With the Razorbacks entering a bye week before a road trip to Knoxville to tangle with the Vols, the team needs a complete reset. Will the dismissal of Pittman provide this? Or, will the same issues with the offense being stagnant as of late, coupled with a defense that has more holes than Swiss cheese, continue to fumble this season away?

Change Is Necessary

Athletic director Hunter Yurachek didn’t mince words in his statement: “A change is necessary to put our student-athletes and program in the best position to be successful. The goal for our football program is to be highly competitive within the Southeastern Conference and compete for a national championship.” With that, the Razorbacks enter the coaching carousel as the SEC’s first vacancy of the cycle—and the fourth Power Four opening overall, following firings at Virginia Tech, UCLA, and Oklahoma State. Arkansas’ $9.8 million buyout to Pittman (triggered by his above-.500 record since 2021) is a steep price, but it’s a signal of intent: the Hogs are ready to invest, even if their $5.5 million annual head coaching salary ranks 14th in the SEC, trailing the nine-figure behemoths at Alabama, Georgia, and Texas.

What’s On The Menu: Arkansas’ Next Football Coach

Now, we get to the meat! We see these lists compiled across the country when openings occur, and some are laughable. With this, we will look at a list of six realistic hiring candidates for the Razorbacks.

The Short Ribs: Top 6 Candidates

Lashlee Comes Home

We start with the current SMU head coach, Rhett Lashlee. The former Shiloh Christian QB under then head coach Guz Malzahn, {Just wait} is the first phone call that needs to be made. The former backup quarterback, and later a graduate assistant for the Hogs, will take some convincing to leave the Mustangs. Off the 2024 CFP visit, Lashlee will be a challenge to convince to move back to Northwest Arkansas. If the brass can make this move, the recruiting in the state of Texas will immediately be boosted, as well as a prolific play caller and proven winner. Lashlee is the first target on the coach’s list.

Come On Down, Jon

If Arkansas wants to make a splash with the coach’s list, it will convince Jon Sumrall to leave the beads of Bourbon Street. The rising star of college football, Sumrall has proven to win at every stop he has made, from Troy to Tulane. During his time in Alabama, he compiled a 23-4 record. In New Orleans, Sumrall is 13-6 and continued the success of a former Cotton Bowl champion. This would be a move that would turn heads across the country. Additionally, this would foster a culture while not straining the budget.

Come Back Jeff

For many amongst the Arkansas fanbase, one name has been on their list since Pittman was hired: Jeff Traylor. The current UTSA head coach has ties to the program, having served as an assistant head coach and running backs coach from 2018 to 2019. Yes, this is the Chad Morris era, and this hire may not repeat the results. Traylor 48-22 in San Antonio and was in the lead from the transition from Conference USA to the American. This, plus strong Texas roots and a no-nonsense approach, is just what Arkansas needs on the sidelines. Could Traylor wear the Hogs logo again?