After three consecutive losses, including the broadly noted embarrassing 56-13 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday, Head Coach Sam Pittman has been fired. His contract buyout is estimated to be around $9.3 million.
Pittman’s firing was announced Sunday (Sept. 28) in statement from Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek. Yurachek said offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, a former head coach of Razorback football, will be interim head coach for the rest of the season.
“I want to thank Coach Pittman for his service and dedication to the University of Arkansas throughout his time as head coach,” Yurachek said. “From Day 1, you could tell how much this opportunity meant to him. At this time, however, I feel a change is necessary to put our student-athletes and program in the best position to be successful.”
Pittman, 63, was named the Razorbacks’ 34th head coach in December 2019 and was in his sixth season. He was 32-34 overall while winning three bowl games in his tenure. Arkansas is 2-3 this season heading into the bye week before returning to action at Tennessee on Oct. 11.
Yurachek said Petrino, 64, has asked to be considered for the job as part of the national search. Petrino was head coach between 2008 and 2011, and was fired after it was revealed he was having an affair with a university employee.
“As we move forward in the process of finding our next head coach, I am certain we will be able to provide the necessary resources to our staff and team to reach our goals,” Yurachek noted. “We will begin a national search for our next head coach immediately and that search will include Coach Petrino, who has expressed his desire to be a candidate for the full-time job.”
According to ESPN and other sources, Pittman’s firing opens a 30-day window for players to leave the team through the transfer portal.
A press conference with Yurachek and Petrino is set for noon on Monday in the Broyles Center media room.
Gov. Sarah Sanders weighed in on the decision.
“Sam Pittman helped turn around the Arkansas football program from one of its all time lows and brought energy and excitement back to the Hogs that was desperately needed,” Gov. Sanders noted in a statement. “I’ve always appreciated how much Sam loved Arkansas and wasn’t looking to use it as a stepping stone but a place to call home. Sam is a man of high integrity and character. Bryan and I have loved getting to know him and Jamie and we are proud to call them friends. Bobby Petrino has demonstrated a track record of winning at Arkansas and we hope he can bring the team together and lead them to finish the season strong.”