Arkansas has fired head coach Sam Pittman after a disappointing start to the season, including a heavy loss to Notre Dame and a narrow defeat to Memphis. The Razorbacks are currently 2-3 on the season. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will serve as the interim head coach, with his past success at Arkansas being acknowledged. Athletic director Hunter Jurachek noted that while Pittman showed dedication, a change was necessary to prepare the program for greater competitiveness in the SEC and national championships.
Pittman was hired in 2019 and led the team’s improvement from a 3-7 record in 2020 to 9-4 in 2021. He faces a unique clause in his contract requiring Arkansas to pay him nearly $10 million, as the team has remained above .500 since 2021. If the team had a losing record, this amount would drop to just under $7 million. The coaching change comes as Jurachek recently indicated that the program needs to be on track for national championship contention, a goal not achieved since 2011. Petrino’s history at Arkansas, where he had a record of 34-17, will be crucial as he aims to lead the team to a bowl game and potentially secure the full-time head coaching position.
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