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Razorbacks expected to hire USF’s Alex Golesh as next coach

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Razorbacks expected to hire USF’s Alex Golesh as next coach


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks football program has turned to a rising offensive mind to lead its next era.

Arkansas is set to hire South Florida Bulls coach Alex Golesh to build upon a foundation left by fired sixth-year coach Sam Pittman.

Golesh is set to take over a Razorbacks program that had grown stagnant in recent years after appearing to be on an upward trajectory through the first three games of the 2022 season.

His hiring signifies a change in the program’s culture that’s seen a high amount of turnover not only with its on the field product but inside the locker room.

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At 40 years-old, Golesh becomes Arkansas’ youngest first-time power conference coach since Houston Nutt and first offensively ecentric hire since Bobby Petrino following the 2007 season.

His career includes roles coaches such as Jim Tressel, Mike Gundy, Tim Beckman and Josh Heupel, with whom he helped engineer Tennessee’s resurgence through a tempo-driven system that ranked among the nation’s most efficient attacks.

During his first season at the helm of South Florida in 2023, Golesh took a program that finished 1–11 the year before and improved it to 7–6, one of the strongest turnarounds in the American Conference History.

Speaking during his rise at USF, Golesh described his coaching foundation as “building sustainable habits rather than temporary sparks.” That philosophy aligns with Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek’s repeated emphasis on program stability.

The Razorbacks’ search was expected to lean toward established Power Five names, but broadened to successful Group of Five conference coaches. The coaching landscape has shifted rapidly in previous years thinks to NIL, transfer portal and other happenings.

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ESPN analyst Greg McElroy praised Golesh’s potential earlier recently, noting that “his system demands discipline but creates accessibility for young quarterbacks to grow quickly. For a program seeking stability behind center, that trait held value to Arkansas as a promising move goinf forward.

Arkansas’ offense has been productive this season as a top 15 unit, but undisciplined play such as penalties and turnovers hampered what could’ve been a stepping stone year for the program.

Golesh’s history suggests immediate attention to structure, tempo, and simplifying reads to open the field horizontally. His Tennessee offenses produced some of the nation’s highest yards-per-attempt numbers, while his USF unit jumped from No. 123 nationally to No. 24 in total offense in just one season.

Golesh built recruiting momentum quickly at South Florida, securing one of the program’s highest-rated classes by leaning on relationships in Florida high schools and emphasizing early play opportunities.

Arkansas’ roster is a mix of young skill-position talent and transfer-era fluidity, which should appeal to Golesh’s preference for versatility. Should he opt to keep current assistants onboard, offensvie line coach Eric Mateos would certainly be an option given several of his commits remain on board throughout the coaching transition.

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Mateos’ unit has continued to improve over the past two seasons, giving up less sacks and pressures against SEC competition.

Golesh’s demeanor has often been described as methodical, detail-driven, and rooted in teaching, which can be a culture changing method inside the Arkansas football facility.

His experience constructing offenses around transferable concepts may allow for a quicker cultural transition. His track record in elevating quarterbacks is particularly relevant for an Arkansas team that struggled to find long-term rhythm behind center.



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Arkansas

No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals

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No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals



COLLEGE STATION – A victory in the 5,000m by Nick Busienei and third place in the distance medley relay had No. 1 Arkansas leading the team score with 18 points on the first day of the SEC Indoor Championships.

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The Razorbacks produced 12 of those points in the 5,000m as Nick Busienei won the race in a meet record of 13;31.86, which ranks him No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Busienei bettered the meet record of 13:37.52 set by Razorback Patrick Kiprop in 2025.

James Sankei added two more points in placing seventh with a time of 13:44.57.

Dating back to 1992 when Arkansas competed in its first SEC Indoor meet, Busienei claimed the 21st title for the program and is the 14th Razorback to win the indoor 5,000m.

Six more points were added in the distance medley relay as Arkansas posted a time of 9:30.84 from the foursome of Owan Logorodi (2:58.46), Zyaire Nuriddin (46.51), Julian Carter (1:49.10), and Brian Masai (3:56.77).

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South Carolina won the race in 9:30.08 with Ole Miss runner-up in 9:30.34. Florida originally placed third in 9:30.37 but was disqualified for spiking the baton at the conclusion of the race.

Jelani Watkins led the Razorback crew in the 200m prelims as three Arkansas sprinters advanced to the final. Watkins produced an indoor career best of 20.42 rank second overall to a 20.38 by Florida’s Wayna McCoy. Watkins remains No. 2 on the UA all-time list as he improved his previous time of 20.43.

Dapriest Hogans followed with a 20.63 that equaled his career best and his No. 8 ranking on the UA all-time list. Tevijon Williams clocked 20.65 to reach the final where 20.71 was the cutoff time. Jamarion Stubbs ran 20.87 in his prelim heat.

Cooper Williams completed the first day of the heptathlon in sixth place with 2,862 points. He started with a 7.43 in the 60m (736), then added a 21-9.5 (6.64) long jump (729). In the shot put, a mark of 36-8.25 (11.18) picked up 557 points. Williams wrapped up day one by topping the field in the high jump with a clearance of 6-8.25 for 840 points.

Link Lindsey placed 15 in the long jump with a mark of 23-6.75 (7.18).

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The wall goes back up: Arkansas embraces defiant isolation

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The wall goes back up: Arkansas embraces defiant isolation


“Arkansans have been made better economically, intellectually and socially by letting go of the ‘terrified truculence’ toward outsiders in recent decades. Sadly, as we’ve experienced this sad winter, all signs are that many similar seasons of defiant isolation are in our state’s future,” writes political scholar Jay Barth.



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Man arrested in Arkansas connected to Jan. 2026 fatal hit-and-run in Dallas

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Man arrested in Arkansas connected to Jan. 2026 fatal hit-and-run in Dallas


Authorities in Arkansas have arrested a man accused of being behind the wheel during a January car crash that left one man dead.

Suspect arrested in Arkansas for Dallas hit-and-run

What we know:

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U.S. Marshals tracked down 22-year-old Enrique Hernandez in De Queen, a southwest Arkansas town about three hours away from Dallas and an hour north of Texarkana.

Hernandez has been charged with collision involving death, a second-degree felony, in connection with the case. He is currently being held in an Arkansas jail before he is transferred to a jail in Dallas County.

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What we don’t know:

Dallas police haven’t said if the suspect has any ties to the victim or the area of Arkansas where he was arrested.

The backstory:

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The fatal hit-and-run occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11 near W. Davis St. and N. Westmoreland Dr. in Dallas.

26-year-old Johnathan Rodriguez was dropped off by friends outside his Dallas neighborhood early Sunday morning after celebrating his birthday.

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Surveillance video shows Rodriguez in the media area of the road when a dark-colored SUV hits him and drives away.

Rodriguez was left with severe head trauma, later dying from his injuries.

A bittersweet victory for the family

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What they’re saying:

John Rodriguez, the victim’s father, struggled to find the words to describe the news he received.

“It’s not going to bring him back, bring my son back,” Rodriguez told FOX 4’s Peyton Yager. “It hurts every day, every minute. I wake up every morning, and he is not here. We are really going to miss him.”

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The Rodriguez family worked with police to help find their son’s killer. They found more surveillance video near the scene of the accident that helped authorities find and arrest Hernandez in Arkansas.

“We are going to fight for justice. Long live Johnny, and we are going to keep on fighting,” Rodriguez said.

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The Source: Information in this story came from current and previous FOX 4 reporting.

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