UA confirms search for new assistant coach

By Brandon Marcello

Posted: March 15, 2010 at 3:23 p.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey has reassigned an assistant coach to an administrative role and will hire a new assistant coach for the Razorbacks’ staff.

Isaac Brown, as reported on WholeHogSports.com on Sunday, was reassigned within the program. Assistant coaches Rob Evans and Tom Ostrom, whose contracts expire June 30, will remain on the staff, according to an Arkansas news release.

The search to fill Brown's role as an assistant coach has commenced, and Brown will continue his duties on the recruiting trail until the position is filled.

Pelphrey met with Athletic Director Jeff Long on Sunday to discuss the program. Pelphrey recommended Brown's reassignment, according to the UA.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to improving our program, I believe these changes will result in the development of both a stronger coaching and support staff,” Pelphrey said in the news release. “After making my recommendation, Jeff Long assisted me in creating this opportunity. I appreciate the support of our administration and their continued assistance in providing our basketball program the resources and the opportunity to succeed. I appreciate what Isaac Brown has brought to our program and look forward to working with him in his new administrative role.”

Pelphrey said he has worked "proactively and decisively to make fundamental changes in the expectations" of the players.

"Many of those lessons have been difficult as the repercussions of decisions made by individuals have adversely affected the entire team," Pelphrey said. "A member of the Razorback men’s basketball program will maintain a commitment to academic and athletic success while representing the University of Arkansas in an appropriate manner.

“On the court, while we have had some success, our coaches and student-athletes understand the expectations of the Razorback program is to compete for championships and win consistently in the Southeastern Conference and nationally. We will continue to work every day in all facets of our program to meet those expectations.”

Arkansas finished 14-18 this season, its second consecutive losing season under Pelphrey.

The university's news release also compared the records of Pelphrey and former coach Nolan Richardson. Richardson, who led the Razorbacks to a national championship in 1994, had a winning percentage of 57.1 percent in his first three seasons. Pelphrey, who won 23 games in his first season at Arkansas, has a record of 51-46 in three seasons.

“After meeting and discussing in detail all areas of our men’s basketball program, I continue to believe Coach Pelphrey understands what it takes to build our program to the level of our high expectations and is working extremely hard to do so,” Long said. “We have asked John and his staff to do more than win basketball games, we have asked them to build a program on and off the court of which our university and supporters can be proud. This process will take additional time."

Player attrition in recent years has hurt the Razorbacks on and off the court, directly affecting the program's Academic Progress Rate. The NCAA's benchmark in the APR for a program is a score of 925, but the Razorbacks fell well below that mark with an 888 during a four-year period in numbers released last year. Further years below the benchmark could result in a loss of scholarships and practice time.

This season, the Razorbacks dealt with suspensions. Five players were suspended for varying reasons and time last fall, and the longest suspension was served by sophomore guard Courtney Fortson, who was held out for the first 14 games.

"(Pelphrey) understands that the strength of a program is based on developing those traits in student-athletes on the basketball court, in the classroom and in life," Long said. "Coach Pelphrey also understands the University of Arkansas’ commitment to athletic success specifically the importance of winning basketball games. He has embraced the history and tradition of Razorback basketball since his arrival and feels a tremendous personal responsibility to return our program to the levels that we all desire on the court. We will continue to assist Coach Pelphrey and his staff as they work towards success in accomplishing all of these goals.”

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A new assistant coach is not going to get Arkansas where they want to be. I guess the fans should count there losses and find another program to follow. Clearly the University of Arkansas is not interested in winning. They can't see past the end of there noses to realize we need some new leadership to take the Hogs to a winning level.

Posted by: Hoggsr01

March 15, 2010 at 8:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )