Sam Pittman will return as Arkansas football coach in 2024
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 Saturday night when he informed them Pittman would be retained for the 2024 season.
Pittman is 23–24 years old when Pittman took over the program in 2020.
“This has not been the season any of us anticipated. We have work to do,” Yuracek said in a statement.
“I am sure we can accomplish the objectives and standards of our program as a team.”
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.
Pittman replaced both coordinators this offseason after defensive coordinator Barry Odom left to coach UNLV and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles left to replace Garrett Riley as offensive coordinator at TCU.
Pittman hired Dan Enos from Maryland as offensive coordinator and Travis Williams from UCF as defensive coordinator. However, Enos was fired last month following 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 FIU 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.
Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.