Arkansas is sticking with Sam Pittman despite a 4-7 season.
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said the Razorbacks players were excited in the locker room on Saturday night when he informed them Pittman would be retained for the 2024 season. Pittman took over the program in 2020 and is 23-24 during that time.
“This has not been the season any of us anticipated. We have work to do,” Yuracek said in a statement. “I am confident that together, we can meet the goals and expectations of our program.”
Pittman would be owed $16.1 million if he were fired after the season. He’s guaranteed to be above .500 since the start of the 2021 season. He would be owed around $10.7 million if his overall record was below .500 during that span.
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) November 19, 2023
Pittman replaced both coordinators this offseason after defensive coordinator Barry Odom left to be the head coach at UNLV and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles left to replace Garrett Riley as offensive coordinator at TCU.
Pittman hired Travis Williams as defensive coordinator from UCF and Dan Enos from Maryland at offensive coordinator but fired Enos last month after a 7-3 loss to Mississippi State. Receivers coach Kenny Guiton took over offensive play-calling duties, and the Razorbacks beat Florida 39-33 for the program’s first-ever win in Gainesville. But a week later, they suffered a 48-10 home loss to Auburn. On Saturday, Arkansas beat Florida International 44-20.
Pittman’s first losing season since taking over in the 2020 season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic had spawned frustration around the program, but Yurachek’s decision means the Hogs won’t join a market for a coach that already includes SEC programs Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
(Photo: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
