Tag: Hunter Yurachek

Arkansas’ deep-money power-brokers finally reel in a big a fish

John Tyson brought John Calipari to Arkansas. Hunter Yurachek called on you, regular fan, to keep him there by making NIL donations.

Even before the introduction of the NIL into college sports, rank-and-file Arkansans wondered why the deep-pocketed families of the Natural State didn’t provide more to the Razorbacks.

And while part of the reason is because there’s a reason you’re rank-and-file and they’re deep-pocketed, the question made a bit of sense, really. Home to Walmart, JB Hunt and Tyson – three Fortune 500 companies – Arkansas athletics never had the air of a rich team, in money, or a literal rich team, in talent.

Until John Tyson stepped up to help reel in John Calipari.

Calipari’s introduction as Arkansas basketball coach Wednesday night was a spectacle, the kind of which Razorbacks brass hopes to see much more of. Even the former Kentucky coach himself proclaimed he hadn’t seen anything quite like it. Fireworks, strobe lights, cheerleaders, a catchphrase already set to go. Arkansas fans haven’t been that excited in years.

The biggest applause was reserved for Tyson, though. Emcee, Razorbacks play-by-play broadcaster Chuck Barrett, called Tyson out specifically by name and the magnate received an uproarious standing ovation to which he responded by standing, as well. When Calipari’s interview with Barrett began, one of the first things out of the coach’s mouth was praise for his friend who made the connection between Calipari and athletic director Hunter Yurachek.

By no means are things over, though. Calipari doesn’t have a roster. He hasn’t coached a game. In fact, to get the sort of roster he wants, money has to put into NIL. Yurachek made two cattle calls to the middle-class of Arkansas fan, ostensibly along the lines of “We need your help.”

“I will say that Coach Cal and I talked about NIL robustly,” Yurachek said. “We talked about it on the plane. Him and I are on the same page…. We’ve got some ways to go to get there. Reports make it sound like it’s a done deal and money in the bank. What I will tell you is that’s not the case.”

He’s right in the sense Arkansas needs to pump more money to its student-athletes, all of whom left the Razorbacks basketball team this offseason. The only question may be why the expectation is for the people forced to sit 100 feet from the dais Wednesday night are the expected and not the people sitting 20 feet from it.

Except Tyson. Arkansans believe he’s done his part already.

John Calipari officially named Arkansas basketball coach

The red plume of smoke signaled a new Coach had been selected.

John Calipari, a Catholic, was signaled by a plume of smoke.

Arkansas had chosen a new basketball coach.

Razorbacks athletic director Hunter Yurachek tweeted an image of smoke, much like is done in Vatican City when a new pope is selected, colored red in this case to let the Arkansas fan base know that John Calipari, reported to be the Hogs’ next basketball coach since Sunday, had indeed been hired.

“As I visited with Coach Calipari during this process, he acknowledged the tremendous opportunity we have at the University of Arkansas to attract and retain top players and compete for championships,” Yurachek said in a press release. “He understands the deep passion of the Razorback Nation and has experienced the tremendous home court advantage of Bud Walton Arena. I have no doubt that under Coach Calipari’s leadership and with the collective support of all those who love the Hogs, Razorback Basketball will continue to maintain its national prominence within college basketball.”

Arkansas had an opening after Eric Musselman, who took Arkansas to two Elite Eights and a Sweet 16, left the job to take the same at Southern California last week. Chris Beard, Jerome Tang, Will Wade, Darrell Walker and Chris Jans had all been on Arkansas’ radar as replacements before the school and Calipari showed mutual interest.

Calipari left Kentucky after 15 seasons, including four Final Fours and a national championship. The Wildcats, however, had not gone deeper than the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament since 2019, leading to some frustration in Big Blue Nation.

“By all accounts, John Calipari is one of the premier coaches in college basketball,” Yurachek said.

Calipari will be introduced at a press conference open to the public at 6 p.m. from Bud Walton Arena.

Sam Pittman has thoughts on Arkansas’ reported hiring of John Calipari

Sam Pittman provided some advice for Arkansas’ next basketball coach, but neither confirmed nor denied it was going to be John Calipari.

Sam Pittman has some advice for Arkansas’ next basketball coach, who, by the way, is reported to be former Kentucky coach John Calipari.

Pittman didn’t confirm or deny the reports, of course, but made it clear he was quite aware his next fellow head man in the athletic department will likely be Calipari.

“Well, I live in Arkansas,” Pittman said.

Pittman reflected on his interactions with athletic director Hunter Yurachek from when Pittman ws hired by the AD back in 2019. The coach said almost everything Yurachek told him and the way Yurachek acted during that process has maintained.

“I believe in Hunter Yurachek. He’ll find the best guy. I guess according to everybody, we found him. I don’t know him well, but if he’s a good coach we probably hit a pretty good home run. Maybe hit a grand slam,” Pittman said.

Yurachek hasn’t changed in the nearly five years Pittman has been back at Arkansas. He was the Razorbacks offensive line coach under head coach Bret Bielema in the mid 2010s, though the athletic director at that time was Jeff Long.

“He’s going to tell you what needs to be done and what you’re doing well, what you need to improve on. Very direct, very honest and he stays to his word. That’s what the new basketball coach can expect,” Pittman said.

Not so fast… Eric Musselman’s future might not be set in stone

There’s never a dull day with Arkansas Athletics.

At this point, who really knows what’s going on?

Four days ago, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek tweeted a repurposed video suggesting that Arkansas basketball head coach Eric Musselman was returning for another season despite the rumors circulating the program that he was leaving.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that the most important part of the equation—Eric Musselman—was not a part of the decision.

As soon as the post hit X (Twitter), more rumors spread that Yurachek posted the video without the head Hog’s knowledge. But that’s all they were at the time, rumors. However, when no one on Eric Musselman’s staff, or Musselman himself, retweeted the post, it gave weight to the message board gossip.

Yesterday, Kevin McPherson of Hogville.net joined Pig Trail Nation and revealed that his unnamed sources confirmed the rumors.

“I have… multiple sources telling me that Eric Musselman was not expecting that and was not aware it was coming out,” McPherson told KNWA sports reporter Evan Kamikow, “and there might have been some choice words related to the fact that it came out; when it did and how it did.”

Some fans still held out hope that it was all a big misunderstanding, going as far as to link everything to the upcoming unofficial holiday, April Fool’s Day. Regrettably, those hopes were dashed this afternoon.

Hunter Yurachek joined a small podcast called 1 Star Recruits Podcast where the man himself confirmed the fears. “That video was just to dispel some of the rumors,” Yurachek told the host, “He’s still our basketball coach. Now, this may change tomorrow. You’ll have to ask Coach Musselman that.”

The reason he gives for releasing the video was to “have fun with the fan base and the neigh-sayers,” but all it’s done is build the anxiety of Arkansas fans and embolden the neigh-sayers.

To make matters worse, Yurachek states that there are no financial incentives in the works to keep Musselman in Fayetteville.

Be that as it may, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel after all.

The 2-time Elite Eight and 3-time Sweet Sixteen coach is still working, though. On Saturday, Arkansas landed UMass stand-out Josh Cohen from the portal. Arkansas has also reached out to dozens of players in the portal, exactly how Musselman has done every year he’s led the Razorbacks.

Hunter Yurachek gives Arkansas fans an answer about Eric Musselman’s future

The news couldn’t come at a better time.

Rumors have been circulating social media about Arkansas basketball’s head coach Eric Musselman leaving for a new gig after a disappointing season.

Musselman has been linked to jobs around the country, specifically to the open positions at SMU and Louisville.

Fans all over Arkansas have been freaking out about losing the coach who brought the most success to Bud Walton Arena since Nolan Richardson, going as far as asking his daughter about his plans for the future.

However, it seems that fans might have their answer regarding the head Hog. Athletic director Hunter Yurachek posted a short video to X (Twitter) that suggests Musselman is staying in Fayetteville.

In the video, Yurachek hops on one of Razorback Transit’s buses—or in this case, the “Muss Bus”—only to find out Eric Musselman at the wheel. Yurachek promptly asks, “Wait a minute. You’re still here?” suggesting that the two-time Elite Eight appearing coach will indeed stay at Arkansas.

It’s a good thing he’s coming back, too. Arkansas has lost most of its players from the 2023-24 season, and having a proven transfer portal recruiter like Musselman will benefit the team immensely.

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.

Razorbacks analyst Zimmerman named Sportscaster of the Year

Arkansas basketball analyst Matt Zimmerman has been named Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year.

Arkansas basketball radio analyst Matt Zimmerman has been named the Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

The 1990 Arkansas graduate and former coach has been calling Razorback basketball games alongside play-by-play legend Chuck Barrett since 2015, and began co-hosting The Razorback Daily podcast with Quinn Grovey in 2021.

“Congratulations to our own Matt Zimmerman on being recognized as the Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year,” Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. “Coach Z brings a unique broadcasting style to our fans that blends his knowledge for the game with his historical perspective of Arkansas Athletics. Most of all, it is his passion for our state and our program that shines through as he helps link Arkansans to their beloved Razorbacks.”

Zimmerman’ high energy and insightful analysis, alongside Barrett, has proven to be an entertaining tandem for listeners.

He served as a team manager under Nolan Richardson in the late 1980s. After beginning his coaching career with stints at Dardanelle and Plainview-Rover high schools, Zimmerman spent spent 16 seasons as a college basketball coach under Mike Anderson, with stops at UAB and Missouri, before returning to Arkansas in 2011.

He began his broadcasting career while still serving on the Razorbacks’ coaching staff in 2015. Zimmerman swapped roles with Scotty Thurman, becoming the Hogs’ Director of Basketball Operations for the final three years of Anderson’s tenure, which included being the radio analyst.

His role with the Razorback Sports Network expanded in 2020 when he joined the Arkansas football broadcasts, becoming a part of the pregame show. Zimmerman also serves as an analyst on SEC Network+ broadcasts of Razorback women’s basketball.

Zimmerman joins a long line of Razorback announcers who have received the honor, which includes his broadcast partner and three-time winner, Barrett. The list also includes three-time winner Phil Elson, the play-by-play voice for Razorback baseball and women’s basketball. The late, great Paul Eells won the award 13 times during his legendary career at KATV and as the football Voice of the Razorbacks, crossing four decades. Bud Campbell is an eight-time winner, while Bob Cheyne won six of the awards.

Yurachek: Petrino was not hired to replace embattled coach Pittman

Hunter Yurachek said Tuesday that Bobby Petrino was not hired as a replacement for Sam Pittman.

In an interview with Hogs Plus on Tuesday, Hunter Yurachek emphatically denied that former Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino was hired to eventually replace current embattled head coach Sam Pittman.

“He’s not here to take Sam’s job,” Yurachek told Matt Zimmerman. “He’s here to help change the dynamics of our offense. And who better to do that than one of the brightest offensive minds in college football.”

Petrino helped lift the Razorbacks to as high as No. 3 in the country during his four-year stint as the head Hog, from 2008-11, amassing a record of 34-17. Arkansas finished second in the SEC West in 2010, before losing to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2011, Arkansas finished 11-2 by beating Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, before ending the season No. 5 in the AP Top 25. The Razorbacks were then ranked No. 10 in the 2012 preseason poll, until a well-documented motorcycle crash began to reveal some deceit, which ultimately ignited the program’s implosion.

Now, 12 years later, the program is still feeling the effects of Petrino’s dismissal. But maybe Petrino, himself, is the answer to help turn things back around.

“I think he has paid his dues,” Yurachek said. “When he reached out through back channels, what he said was he wanted to come here and right his wrongs, and really help Coach Pittman get this program back to where he believed it could be, and back to where it was when he was the head coach.

After leaving Arkansas, Petrino took the reins at Western Kentucky for the 2013 season, before making a return to his old stomping grounds of Louisville, where he remained for five years and coached Heisman Trophy winner and current NFL star Lamar Jackson.

He then spent three seasons at Missouri State and gave the Razorbacks all they could handle when he brought his Bears to Fayetteville for a game in 2022. Arkansas needed a 21-point fourth quarter to eventually win the game, 38-27.

After spending this past season as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, prior to being let go by the departure of head coach Jimbo Fisher, Petrino was looking for a job and Arkansas was looking for a proven offensive coordinator.

Petrino is now tasked with helping Pittman turn around a program reeling from a 4-8 season, during which they fired former offensive coordinator Dan Enos.

“One of the things I said, in one of my criteria that I wanted, was a man that loved the University of Arkansas,” Pittman said. “It would be hard to find someone that felt stronger toward Arkansas than Coach Petrino. Once I knew his interest back in us, it was really a no-brainer at that point in time. It was just about making the contract and timeline and all that, making those things work.”

 

 

Razorback student-athletes reach record academic success for third straight year

The graduation rate for Arkansas student-athletes has continue to rise over the past 19 years.

Not only do Razorback athletes continue to soar in their chosen sports, but most of them have also found a way to succeed in the classroom.

For the third-straight year, University of Arkansas student-athletes have combined to earn the top graduation success rate (GSR) in the history of Razorback athletics. A report released by the NCAA this week confirms that student-athletes who entered the university in 2016, have earned a GSR of 88 percent, topping the previous year’s rate as the highest in school history.

The GSR was developed to track the academic progress of student-athletes, as they worked toward graduation. Arkansas has steadily improved its GSR rate since the measuring tool was implemented by the NCAA in 2005. The Razorback program had an initial rate of 60 that first year, but has risen 28 percentage points throughout the 19 years since. The only two years the percentage declined was in 2012, when it dropped from 73 to 72 percent, and in 2018, when it dropped from 80 to 79 percent.

Most recently, the program posted a 98 percent Razorback Graduation Rate, which is reflective of Arkansas student-athletes who have completed their athletics eligibility.

The rising academic rates in the classroom have also coincided with the most successful performance years in Razorback Athletics history. Arkansas has recorded their three-best Learfield Directors’ Cup finishes in program history in the past three years. The Directors’ Cup was developed jointly between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today, awarding points based on each institution’s finish in NCAA Championships.

Arkansas has won 33 SEC team championships over the past six years, including 15 conference titles in the past three years alone. The Razorbacks lead all SEC programs in both categories, and their total of 33 is more than seven other league programs combined, during that same timeframe.

During the 2022-23 academic year, Arkansas produced one of the most successful years in school history, finishing 13th in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, while student-athletes combined for a 3.20 cumulative GPA, and 166 student-athletes earned academic personal bests. A total of 72 Razorback student-athletes graduated, and another 12 earned graduate certificates.

“Congratulations to the outstanding Razorback student-athletes who continue to achieve record-breaking success in the classroom and on the fields and courts of athletic competition,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. “While we will always cherish the wins and championships achieved in their time as Razorbacks, the lasting legacy of our student-athletes will be as graduates of the University of Arkansas, their names forever inscribed on Senior Walk. I am appreciative of the hard work of our student-athletes and am thankful for the dedicated efforts of our coaches, academic support team and all those who have invested in our mission of Building Champions and Razorbacks for Life.”

Complete Graduation Success Rate Report

Sam Pittman lands transfer offensive lineman day after confirmed return in 2024

Less than a day after it was confirmed that Sam Pittman will be returning, the Hogs received some much-needed good news at position of need.

Nearly 24 hours after Arkansas athletic director [autotag]Hunter Yurachek[/autotag] confirming [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag]’s return as head coach next season, the first domino has fallen.

Michigan State transfer offensive lineman [autotag]Keyshawn Blackstock[/autotag], announced his commitment to the Razorbacks on Monday afternoon. Blackstock is the first transfer addition of what will likely be an extremely busy offseason.

Blackstock, a 6-5, 300-pound offensive tackle entered the transfer portal back in late October and was a hot commodity, as he held offers from Ole Miss, Penn State, NC State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and others. He was the No. 1 rated JUCO lineman prospect in the 2023 class, and committed to Michigan State following a two-year stint at Kansas’ Coffeyville Community College.

As mentioned previously, the timing of Blackstock’s announcement comes less than a day after Pittman’s job security for next year was confirmed. This could be the first of many dominos to fall for Arkansas recruiting in the coming weeks – both in the portal and high school ranks.

For now, Blackstock fits a huge need on the offensive line, which has been the bane of this Razorback team throughout the entire season. It’s the first step of many needed to get that unit back up to a competitive and competent level.