Arkansas AD Yurachek appointed to Playoff Selection Committee

Arkansas AD Hunter Yuracheck has been appointed to serve on the CFP Selection Committee.

Arkansas Athletics Director Hunter Yurachek is joining an elite group, after being appointed to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee on Thursday.

Now in his sixth full year at the helm of the Razorbacks’ athletic department, Yurachek is set to serve on the prestigious 13-member committee for the next three football seasons, which begins next season with the new, expanded 12-team playoff format.

“It is truly an honor that the CFP Management Committee has appointed me to serve on the selection committee, especially at such a transformational time in the history of college football and the playoff,” Yurachek said. “As an athletics director at three institutions and the father of three sons who have participated in college football, I am keenly aware of the tremendous passion for college football as well as the opportunities afforded to student-athletes through college football. As we all enter this new era, I look forward to working alongside my fellow selection committee members to continue to foster the growth of this wonderful game.”

Yurachek was one of six new members appointed to the CFP Selection Committee, which will be chaired by Michigan Athletics Director Warde Manuel. His appointment comes alongside Washington State AD Patrick Chun, former Arizona All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel, former Missouri and Toledo Head Coach Gary Pinkel, Baylor AD Mack Rhodes, and Virginia AD Carla Williams.

Since being introduced at Arkansas in December 2017, Yurachek has guided the Razorbacks – with 19 intercollegiate athletics teams – to being one of the nation’s elite athletics programs. Under his leadership, the Razorbacks have captured 31 SEC Championships in the past five years, including 23 conference titles the past three years alone. Both marks are tops in the conference, and they have won more titles than five other league schools, combined.

Yurachek is the third Arkansas representative to serve on the CFP Selection Committee. Former AD Jeff Long was the inaugural chair of the committee, serving from 2014-17. Former Razorback football All-American and head coach Ken Hatfield also served on the committee from 2018-20.

Arkansas athletic department loses to lieutenant, Yurachek’s right-hand man

Jon Fagg is most publicly known as being part of the committee that helped bring Sam Pittman back to Arkansas.

Jon Fagg had been with the Arkansas athletic department since 2008. Since that time, he helped oversee a pair of football turnarounds and watched several other Hogs sports grow into perennial powerhouses.

No more, as he was named Texas-Arlington athletic director earlier this week.

Fagg was the deputy athletic director academics, integrity and student-athlete development at Arkansas. Before his time in Fayetteville, Fagg worked at North Carolina, overseeing basketball and football.

“Can’t begin to thank [the Razorbacks and the UA] enough for the incredible honor to serve the department, university, NWA & the GREAT state of Arkansas!” Fagg wrote on Twitter. “My family & I will be forever grateful for the opportunity given to be a part of this incredible thing called Razorback Nation!”

The native Hawaiian is most publicly known for being on the three-person search committee that helped bring former Arkansas assistant coach Sam Pittman back to the Razorbacks as head coach in late 2019.

Fagg also worked for the Big South Conference, Fresno State, Arizona, Davidson and Mars Hill College.

REPORT: Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek Signs Extension

Matt Jones of WholeHogSports.com has reported that Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek has signed a contract extension that will run through 2027. 

Matt Jones of WholeHogSports.com has reported that Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek has signed a contract extension that will run through 2027.

According to Jones, Yurachek signed the contract on February 3, and the contract was finalized last Sunday. Yurachek’s salary from the University of Arkansas will be $566,00, and he will receive an additional $684,000 for speaking engagements, sponsorship obligations, interviews, etc.

Arkansas athletics has seen a revival under Yurachek’s tenure. Yurachek was responsible for the hiring of head football coach Sam Pittman, and head men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman, and has seen contract extensions for head baseball coach Dave Van Horn and head women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors.

In the second season under Pittman, Arkansas football has reached a winning-season, and has appeared in a bowl game for the first time since 2016 by finishing 9-4 win a win over Penn State in the Outback Bowl in 2021.

Razorback basketball has had a winning record in all three season’s of the Musselman era, including a 25-win, 13-4 SEC record in 2020-21. Currently, Arkansas is 19-5 with a nine-game winning streak, and recently defeated No. 1 Auburn in front of a sold-out crowd.

Baseball and softball will both start the season in the top-10, and nine Razorback teams won SEC championships last academic year.

The new contract will run through June 30, 2027.