FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Right now there is no reason to believe Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman is going anywhere at the end of this season.
Everything is pointing positive in Fayetteville. Pittman has a new hip, a returning quarterback, an improved offensive line led by an All-American, the vast majority of his staff returning and is in the midst of pulling together a fairly impressive recruiting class with numerous quality pieces for the future.
However, things happen. Key players get hurt, a ball bounces the wrong way, personal health takes a turn or there comes a point where the love just fades. It’s because of this athletics directors always keep a list of names handy for coaching candidates that is always on shuffle year-to-year and in some cases month-to-month.
Arkansas is special, yet difficult
Recruiting coaches to Arkansas is hard for administrators. The state is somewhat isolated from the talent it needs to recruit and the team also happens to play in the SEC, long proven to be a coach killer.
Advertisement
Not even Bret Bielema and his multiple Rose Bowls and Big Ten championship pedigree could survive the grind that is the SEC gauntlet. It takes someone quite unique to win at Arkansas.
The first thing fans need to do is to dump the usual names they always have to cycle through. Lane Kiffin isn’t leaving the comfort of Ole Miss to come to Fayetteville.
He’s king there, is in College Football Playoff contention, and seems quite content to see if he can become the guy who follows the guy who followed “The Guy” at Alabama. He also makes a lot more money than Arkansas can pay.
Also, despite how happy it made Arkansas fans to watch Jon Gruden unbox their gear on social media, he’s not coming to coach the Hogs. He may wear a red tie for 10 weeks straight just to mess with fans, but it’s not happening.
He has a well-paying low pressure gig right now and he is too hot for the Razorbacks considering everything surrounding his most recent firing.
Advertisement
Also, let’s officially hop off the Gus Bus. Sure, he is a much more viable commodity now that he is offensive coordinator down at Florida State, but that bridge has long since been burned from both ends.
So, with that established, let’s look at truly viable candidates.
The assistant coach route
With the money troubles Arkansas is having, hiring an assistant coach to the position is an option that has to be strongly considered. However, that means needing someone with SEC experience who has game planned against fellow conference members who can also recruit to Fayetteville at a high level.
That immediately makes this a list of one. Current Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams has been a major reason the Razorbacks have turned their recruiting around of late.
Arkansas Razorbacks co-defensive coordinator Travis Williams coaching the linebackers at practice. / Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images
Over the past few seasons, each time a player commits to the Hogs who normally would have no business landing here, Williams’ name pops up. When the Razorbacks go viral on social media, it’s Williams in the spotlight.
Advertisement
One instance is when he was all alone in the coaches office watching as linebacker Tavion Wallace shocked everyone by choosing Arkansas. Williams celebrated up and down the empty halls.
Then there was the time when he ended up all over national media, including the “Pat McAfee Show,” as he freestyle rapped alongside his players in the team meeting room. He’s a man players are drawn toward.
— Rabid Razorback Fans (@Rabid_Razorback) July 26, 2024
Advertisement
This past week he celebrated in his car with his daughter on social media when he found out Alabama 4-star high school linebacker JJ Bush is coming to the Hogs. Two years before that, it was 4-star Alabama high school linebacker Bradley Shaw around the same time he found out former 5-star linebacker Xavian Sorey was on his way to be a Razorback.
His energy is infectious and he knows how to sell Fayetteville and the Arkansas program even during the former NIL environment when the staff had everything working against it. Plus, there’s an aura about him that makes it easy to picture him being a better head coach than he is a coordinator.
The positive qualities of Houston Nutt are all there. People want to follow him and he gets people’s blood going to where they think they can run through anything.
If the decision becomes an assistant coach, the line starts and ends with Williams.
Advertisement
The head coach route
This is an oddly short list also. There aren’t a lot of head coaches with SEC experience who can recruit to Arkansas and be competitive who aren’t already out of the Razorbacks’ price range.
That list includes UTSA coach Jeff Traylor and that’s about it. However, his SEC experience didn’t go well, and it’s hard to tell how much interest there would be in evoking Chad Morris’ name back into the Razorback lexicon once again.
So, that leads to another Traylor-like coach who may lack the desired SEC experience, but at least comes with a love of the Razorbacks and SEC football — Joey McGuire.
The name may sound familiar to Arkansas fans. He was the head coach of Texas Tech who took on Arkansas without either of his coordinators or any of his star players this past winter.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire attends spring practice, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the Womble Football Center. / Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
He is a legit Texas high school football coaching legend who has built quite a name for himself coaching the Red Raiders. He took over Cedar Hill in the early 2000s, a high school football program that was rock bottom and had never won a playoff game, and built a national power, making it to four Texas state championship games.
Advertisement
In his first season as head coach at Texas Tech, he took down both the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners, something that should heavily appeal to Arkansas fans. He then pulled back-to-back winning seasons, including an 8-5 finish last year, which showed enough progress to convince a prominent booster to pour money into the program to see what he can do.
What McGuire has done so far is convince the nation’s No. 1 portal class to come to Lubbock, Texas to play football. However, despite the wealthy benefactor, there are things Arkansas offers that could lure McGuire and his strong Texas recruiting ties to Arkansas.
First off, even though Pittman makes bottom of the barrel in the SEC for salary, it would be a 50% increase in pay for McGuire. Also, the man grew up in Texarkana as a true-bred Razorbacks fan.
The other factor is it is much easier to recruit Texas athletes, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and East Texas, to Fayetteville than it is to Lubbock. The drive is far less taxing and it’s hard to meet someone from the area who didn’t fall in love with Northwest Arkansas upon arrival.
Neither of those things have ever been said from a North or East Texan after forcing themselves to drive to Lubbock.
Advertisement
Conclusion
So, that’s it. The list is sweet and concise.
That alone should help people understand to be careful what they wish for when it comes to the faction of the Hogs’ fan base who wants to see Pittman gone. There aren’t a lot of good options out there for Hunter Yurachek to consider who fall within the real of reality.
Best case scenario is Pittman retires with a team thriving on momentum and hands over the keys to Williams to keep the thing going. Otherwise, the Razorbacks may end up in another downward cycle that no one wants to experience again.
Scott Minor, 45, of Elm Street in Jefferson City, Mo., was arrested Friday on suspicion of computer child pornography and sexually grooming a child. Minor was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with a $150,000 bond set.
Bentonville
Advertisement
Damond Drake, 52, of West Highland Drive in Rogers was arrested Saturday on suspicion of delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine. Drake was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.
Fayetteville
Cornelius Anderson, 33, of Dawn Street in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of third-degree assault on a family member, third-degree domestic battery, first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property. Anderson remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $5,000 bond.
Eduard Korshakov, 37, of Prairie Dunes Trail in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault on a family or household member, kidnapping, first-degree false imprisonment, third-degree domestic battery and interference with emergency communications. Korshakov remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.
Efrain Quiroz, 29, of North Shamblin Avenue in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of second-degree battery and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Quiroz remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.
Advertisement
Leo Ward, 21, of West Tanner Drive in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of aggravated residential burglary and stalking. Ward was released from the Washington County Detention Center Monday on $25,000 bond.
Rogers
John Jenkins, 21, of Arkansas 351 in Jonesboro was arrested Saturday on suspicion of fraudulent use of credit/debit card. Jenkins was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.
Springdale
Ashlyn Neal, 19, of Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping, second-degree battery, endangering the welfare of a minor, resisting arrest and obstruction of government operations. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.
Advertisement
Jose Neal, 37, of South Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree domestic battery, third-degree domestic battery, interference with emergency communications and resisting arrest. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.
Skyler Shane, 31, of Highway 62 in Westville, Ok., was arrested Sunday on suspicion of Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, carrying a prohibited weapon and disorderly conduct. Shane was released from the Washington County Detention Center Sunday on $3,500 bond.
University of Arkansas Police Department
Celso Adame-Gallegos, 19 of Jade Street in Springdale was arrested Friday on suspicion of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to deliver. Adame-Gallegos was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Arkansas leaders are set to take the stage at the State Capitol Wednesday afternoon for an announcement already drawing statewide attention.
At 1 p.m., Sarah Huckabee Sanders will appear alongside Erika Kirk, the chairwoman and CEO of Turning Point USA, at the Arkansas State Capitol.
While officials with the governor’s office have not yet released details about the announcement, the joint appearance is expected to draw significant attention from political leaders and supporters across the state.
The moment also brings renewed focus to the legacy of Erika Kirk’s late husband, Charlie Kirk, a nationally recognized conservative activist who built one of the country’s largest student political organizations aimed at mobilizing young voters on college campuses.
Advertisement
In 2025, Kirk was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. Authorities say the gunfire erupted during a gathering connected to student political programming, sending attendees scrambling for safety.
Kirk was rushed from the scene but later died from his injuries, sparking shock and an outpouring of reaction from political leaders, students, and supporters across the country.
In the weeks that followed, memorials and tributes appeared nationwide. In Arkansas, supporters and lawmakers honored Kirk’s life and work with a memorial exhibit displayed inside the Arkansas State Capitol, recognizing the influence he had on conservative youth activism and campus politics.
Following his death, Erika Kirk stepped into a leadership role at Turning Point USA, pledging to continue the organization’s mission and expand its outreach to students across the nation.
On Wednesday, Kirk will again be at the Arkansas State Capitol, this time standing beside Governor Sanders for a joint announcement, as leaders gather and the state waits to learn what the two will unveil.
FAYETTEVILLE — The ninth-ranked Arkansas baseball offense was tamed Sunday by Stetson junior right-hander Trace Hartman.
Hartman allowed a run in the first inning but held down the Razorbacks for the rest of his 6 2/3-inning start, and the Hatters won 4-1 at Baum-Walker Stadium. Arkansas (12-4) had a five-game winning streak snapped.
The Razorbacks had chances against Hartman. They put the leadoff batter on base against him in the first, second, third, fifth and seventh innings, but they could not come through with the big hit. Arkansas finished the game 1 for 16 with runners on base and 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
“Hartman just kept finding a way,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “He’d get behind in the count and he’d come back — 3-2, 3-1 and he’d get you out. He just pitched. Give credit to him. He did a good job.”
Advertisement
Stetson (6-10) snapped its three-game losing streak and gave itself a chance to split the series with a win in Monday’s series finale. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Hartman, a former NCAA Division II standout at University of Charleston (W. Va.) who entered the game with a 1.29 ERA and 0.71 WHIP, scattered 5 hits and 4 walks, and struck out 3 during his 101-pitch outing.
“I was getting the fastball across the plate,” Hartman said, “really just challenging the hitters and making them get themselves out.”
MORE FROM WHOLEHOGSPORTS: Notes, observations from 4-1 loss to Stetson
Stetson homered twice against Arkansas starting pitcher Colin Fisher in the fourth inning to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead. Left fielder Foster Apple led off the inning with a home run to left field to tie the game 1-1.
Advertisement
After a throwing error by Arkansas shortstop Carson Brumbaugh and a 1-out double by Stetson shortstop Landon Russell, right fielder Jayden Hylton hit a 3-run homer to left to give the Hatters the lead for good.
Stetson players celebrate with right fielder Jayden Hylton (17) after he hit a home run during a game against Arkansas on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Fayetteville. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)
It was the third home run of the season for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Hylton, who Stetson coach Steve Trimper said before the series was likely the team’s best pro prospect.
“When Jayden gets hot he can be really good,” Trimper said. “He’s had kind of a roller coaster start to this [season]. He’s one of our better players and he just hung a breaking ball to him on that.
“Foster, he just hit a good pitch. That was a ball that the pitcher was doing a great job and he just got his hands inside the ball and was able to turn on it enough to where the wind — the only place the wind was out today, I think, was kind of down that left-field line.”
Three of the runs were earned against Fisher, who had not allowed an earned run in 22 innings prior to the fourth. It was the second-longest stretch without an earned run during Van Horn’s 24-year tenure. Barrett Astin threw 22 2/3 innings without an earned run to begin the 2012 season during the dead-bat era.
Advertisement
Van Horn said Fisher was not as sharp as his recent outings. He gave up leadoff singles to Juan De La Cruz in the first inning and Paul Napolitano in the third, but he worked out of the jams.
Fisher struck out Yohann Dessureault with three consecutive curveballs in the first inning, and Renzo Gonzalez hit into an inning-ending double play in the third.
“You could kind of tell early that he was either going to have to get better [and] he was going to have to recover,” Van Horn said. “We were hoping after maybe the second inning he would like make a jump and start pitching better, but it really just kind of stayed the same.”
Fisher allowed 4 runs (3 earned) and 6 hits and struck out 4 during his 4-inning, 69-pitch start.
The Razorbacks plated a run quickly against Hartman in the first inning when Damian Ruiz led off with a double and scored on Camden Kozeal’s 1-out double.
Advertisement
But there was little pressure on Hartman from that time until he left the game with runners on the corners in the seventh. Right-hander Andrew Lepine replaced Hartman and got Ruiz to ground into a force play at second base to end the seventh.
Arkansas second baseman Camden Kozeal (8) flips to shortstop Carson Brumbaugh to start a double play during a game against Stetson on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Fayetteville. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)
Kozeal said the Razorbacks should have been more aggressive offensively.
“Maybe guys [were] taking it off a little bit 1 through 9,” Kozeal said. “We’ve got to have an aggressive lineup 1 through 9, trying to hit the ball hard.”
Lepine worked around a leadoff walk by Ryder Helfrick in the eighth and a 2-out walk by Carter Rutenbar in the ninth. His 2 1/3 innings of scoreless work Sunday followed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Razorbacks on Friday.
Trimper called Lepine “a really tricky guy” and a true submariner.
“We got our little sinker baller, sidearmer to come in and get ground balls,” Trimper said.
Advertisement
Stetson out-hit Arkansas 7-5. De La Cruz and Russell both had 2 hits for the Hatters, and Ruiz and Maika Niu both had 2 hits for the Razorbacks.
Cole Gibler did not allow a hit and worked around 2 walks and Brumbaugh’s second throwing error in 3 scoreless innings. Ethan McElvain pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings.
