According to a report from Pete Thamel, Arkansas interim head coach Bobby Petrino has dismissed three key defensive assistant coaches. The Razorbacks are moving on from defensive coordinator Travis Williams, co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and defensive line coach Deke Adams.
Williams, the former defensive coordinator, was highly acclaimed before being dismissed. The former Auburn linebacker and one-year NFL player was a Broyles Award nominee in 2023 and 2024, given to the best assistant coach in college football.
The Razorbacks are off to a 2-3 (0-1 SEC) start to the season with losses against Ole Miss, Memphis and, most recently, Notre Dame. Arkansas led by 18 points late in the first half against Memphis before blowing the lead. Even then, the Razorbacks fumbled deep in Memphis territory with a chance to score a late game-clinching touchdown.
As a result, the university is moving on from Sam Pittman as its head coach, with Petrino taking over for the rest of the season. Arkansas will conduct a search for a new coach, but Petrino is still an option to earn the job.
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The Pittman era started well in Fayetteville, with the Razorbacks overachieving in his first few seasons, including a 9-4 record in 2021 and a 7-6 record in 2022. But things went downhill from there. Arkansas went 4-8 in 2023 before improving with a 7-6 record a season ago that gave Pittman one more year. This included an upset win over Tennessee in 2024.
Arkansas ultimately finished with a 32-34 record in Pittman’s five-plus seasons as head coach. They now turn to Petrino, who went 34-17 in his four seasons as the Razorbacks’ head coach before a scandal ended his tenure following the 2011 season.
According to reporting by CBS Sports’ Will Backus, Arkansas owes Pittman a $9.8 million buyout. While a substantial number, it pales in comparison to the buyout for other coaches on the hot seat, like Florida’s Billy Napier.
The Razorbacks have an open date this week before traveling to Tennessee on Oct. 11. Both teams will be coming off an open date and are in need of a SEC win. Tennessee will be looking for revenge from a season ago when Arkansas upset the Vols 19-14 in Fayetteville.
The SEC has not yet announced the kickoff time or the broadcast details for the conference showdown, but will later on Monday.
