Arkansas football fires more staff and negotiates Pittman buyout
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Bobby Petrino in 2024. Photo: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Arkansas football fired three more people on Bobby Petrino's first full day as interim head coach.
State of play: Defensive coordinator Travis Williams, co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and defensive line coach Deke Adams were fired Monday.
- "I felt it was in our best interest to do what we did this morning for our players to improve individually, to get a little bit more motivated, and I think it'll help our team overall get out on the field and compete and find ways to win a game," Petrino said at a news conference.
Catch up quick: Arkansas (2-3) fired head coach Sam Pittman on Sunday and named offensive coordinator and former head coach Petrino interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
What they're saying: Athletic director Hunter Yurachek called the Razorbacks' performance during their 56-13 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday "unacceptable." He confirmed the loss combined with this season's losses to Ole Miss and Memphis led to Pittman's firing.
- "As you can imagine, Sam was incredibly gracious, incredibly thankful for the opportunity that he had had to be the head coach at the University of Arkansas and made a really tough day as well as it could for me as director of athletics," he said of his conversation with Pittman at Pittman's home on Sunday.
Zoom in: Pittman's contract states that if he is terminated "for convenience by UA" — as in, not for misconduct or violating policies — he is to be paid either 50% or 75% of his remaining annual salary and other compensation, depending on his winning percentage.
- Yurachek said during Monday's press conference the department was negotiating with Pittman to pay out 62.5%. A department spokesperson did not respond to Axios' request for confirmation on a specific dollar amount.
- Pittman, who was under contract until December 2027, will be owed about $7.7 million and is in line to receive about $999,000 in prorated deferred compensation, according to Whole Hog Sports.
- Pittman's annual salary and other compensation totaled $5 million, and he was eligible for other bonus pay ranging $250,000 to $750,000 depending on wins, plus three retention payments of $1.5 million, $2.7 million and $3.3 million.
- Pittman was hired in 2019 and signed a new contract in 2022.
The big picture: Petrino, who was head coach from 2008-11 before being fired in 2012, is vying to lead the Razorbacks again. However, he said his focus for now is the remaining nine weeks of the season.
- Yurachek does not expect Petrino to come in with "magic pixie dust" and win all seven of the remaining games but does want to see great leadership and a more competitive team, he said.
What's next: The athletic department will solicit search firms to find a permanent head coach, Yurachek said.
