Coaching Carousel (Arkansas Razorbacks)

Arkansas Razorbacks

Unlike most of the schools that are looking for coaches, the University of Arkansas have know all season long that they would be hiring a new coach at the end of the season.  The Razorbacks are in this predicament because successful HC Bobby Petrino's incredibly dumb off the field decisions.  Arkansas tabbed John L. Smith to be the interim coach for the season.  Smith likely knew that he'd only be the coach for the year, but was going to use this year as a try out.


Everything was set up for success for Smith.  he had a veteran roster with a stud QB in Tyler Wilson, a returning star RB Knile Davis and an improved defense.  This team was built around the offense and Bobby's brother Paul was the offensive coordinator who many thought would pick up where older brother left off.

Instead this year has been a nightmare in Fayetteville.  It all started when they lost to Louisiana-Monroe.  Losing to a Sun Belt school isn't very good, but little did everybody know that it was going to go downhill from here.  In their match up against #1 Alabama the Razorbacks got blown out 52-0.  Two more games later they were sitting at a 1-4 record.  Arkansas rallied to win 3 of 4.  However with three games remaining against ranked team it doesn't look like they'll win another game.

Arkansas is sitting in a good spot.  They play in the tough SEC West, but the program has a ton of talent in it and there is a history of success.  Add in that they sit in a good recruiting spot and the Razorbacks are most likely the top job that will be open.  We know that John L. Smith won't be the coach next year, but who will?

Possible Candidates

Charlie Strong (Louisville Head Coach)
It's likely that Strong could have this job if he wanted it.  Strong has done a great job of rebuilding the Louisville program (ironically that Petrino also came from) into a team that will likely go undefeated in the regular season.  Strong is an excellent defensive mind who is a strong recruiter and has experience in the SEC (former Florida DC).  Add in that he is an Arkansas native and it all adds up.  But Strong could be holding out for a better job.

Gus Malzahn (Arkansas State Head Coach)
Another popular, but underrated name for this job is a former Arkansas coordinator.  Malzahn was a former Springdale High football coach who became the offensive coordinator under former HC Houston Nutt.  Malzahn has gone on to win a National Title at Auburn (offensive coordinator) and is now the current Arkansas State head coach.  Malzahn left a cushy OC job to take a Sun Belt HC job.  Likely to get some HC experience before a better job comes calling.  Why not a school where he has a lot of connections?

Butch Davis (Former North Carolina Head Coach)
Another Arkansas native that could be in the running is former Miami and North Carolina HC Butch Davis.  Davis has had success where ever he's gone.  But there is the whole NCAA violates situation at North Carolina that he has to deal with.  That could scare off the Arkansas administration.  But a lot of that wasn't necessarily his fault.  A lot of that can be blamed on John Blake and other academic staffers.  But the administration could go with Davis because he is a proven winner.

Tommy Tubberville (Texas Tech Head Coach)
One name that always seems to come up when their is an SEC opening is Tommy Tubberville.  The former Auburn and Ole Miss head coach wants badly to get back in the SEC and he isn't shying away from it.  This was the same coach that went undefeated at Auburn.  After a couple of so so season at Texas Tech he's shown that he can still build a team and has the Red Raiders actually playing some good defense.

Mike MacIntyre (San Jose State Head Coach)
A lesser name that has been tossed around is the current San Jose State HC.  You may be asking why MacIntrye?  Well despite San Jose State not having much success, MacIntyre has fielded some competitive teams and he is highly regarded in coaching circles.  But the main reason is that the former Dallas Cowboys assistant has a big fan in Arkansas alumn Jerry Jones.  Jones has a lot of sway and could thrown the Spartans HC's name in the mix.  Crazier things have happened.