An Update On The Arkansas Coaching Carousel
by KevinHog on Dec 6, 2011 1:44 PM CST
in Arkansas Razorback Football
Email
PrintIn case you haven't heard, but I bet you have, Garrick McGee is now the new head coach at UAB. Congrats, Garrick, and good luck with the Broyles Award. You deserve it. And because you do, you'll be sorely missed by Hog fans everywhere. All of us who saw the ESPN documentary saw from behind the scenes what a good coach and good role model Coach McGee was for our players.
But some good news is to be found in the addition category, and that is Paul Petrino, as I imagined he might, is returning to Arkansas from Illinois and will take part in bowl prep as well as coaching in the bowl game itself. It is great that we won't be down an offensive coach and that Paul is very familiar with the program and how Bobby runs things. Welcome back, Paul.
John L. Smith, special teams coach and Petrino mentor, is headed out to take the head coaching job at his alma mater, Weber State. Former head coaches aren't easy to keep on a coaching staff for very long. I sorta thought that Smith might want to retire from coaching at Arkansas, but I guess not. Thanks Coach Smith for your contributions to the program. Hopefully your replacement will continue your good work and make improvements as well. As for Smith's replacement, I have to say at the top of my wish list is that the new guy knows how to make improvements on the coverage teams.
5 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Looks like there will be no more calls to Free Willy
Willy Robinson will not return next season as Arkansas’ defensive coordinator, multiple sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday.:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7323879/willy-robinson-arkansas-razorbacks-defensive-coordinator
AND…
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The following statement is from University of Arkansas football head coach Bobby Petrino on defensive coordinator/secondary coach Willy Robinson’s resignation:
“I want to thank Willy Robinson for his role in helping our defense, which he leaves in better shape than when he arrived. I have the utmost respect for Willy Robinson as an individual who wants the best for the young men he coaches. I give Willy credit for his part in the building process the last four years and wish him future success.”
http://nwahomepage.com/sports-hogville-fulltext/?nxd_id=290647
"I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know."
Also, good luck to McGee and Smith
Thanks for the service, guys.
Figured that these guys would have opportunities after this year.
Thanks and good luck at your new institutions, gentlemen.
Nice to have Paul Petrino back. If the Big Red Machine that is the Razorbacks’ offense keeps chugging along at the same clip it has the past few years, he should be getting HC looks soon. (However, I see that he commented he would like to stay for the next four years…you never know.) Too bad things went south for him at Illinois, but when the Zooker is your boss, there’s only so much you can do.
As for DC, do they go with a younger up-and-comer or a recycled “big name” who has flamed out as a HC or DC elsewhere?
My money is on hiring a younger guy. Don’t see Coach Petrino able to hiring a former big dog from elsewhere – too much ego in the room. Sure, he brought in John L. Smith, but those guys had a relationship that went waaaay back. Unless there’s another guy out there who Petrino is already familiar with, I don’t see him reaching for a big name hire.
PS - sympathy for the Zooker
Ron Zook hasn’t been a very good HC at the college level, but he’s a fantastic recruiter and has had pretty good results as a DC. I predict he’ll land somewhere as a DC but he shouldn’t get another HC job. He won’t end up in Arkansas now that Paul Petrino is here.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
