Long Stands Behind UA Coach

— Jeff Long kept his general remarks to a tight window at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club on Wednesday. He wanted to leave plenty of time for a packed house to ask questions. He could have talked longer.

The crowd of around 240 didn’t even get to double digits as far as questions. Long, the Arkansas athletic director, even called out one club member by name to suggest he surely could come up with a question, possibly to give the group time to produce more.

It was clear both during Long’s opening remarks, during the Q&A with the club and again when he answered questions from the media that John L. Smith would finish the season as the football coach because it’s the best way to support the assistant coaches and players.

“Every decision we’ve made since April have been based on supporting the student athletes,” Long said, saying that no assistant coaches or players have left the program since Bobby Petrino was fired.

Long said everyone is disappointed with the 1-3 start, but added, “We are not going to abandon our commitment to them with two thirds of the season left.”

Long said he was recently reminded by former Razorback Terry Don Phillips something he remembered hearing Frank Broyles tell him early in his first year at Arkansas.

“You win as a team and you lose as a team,” he said. “You win and lose with dignity and it’s going to take all of us pulling together.”

Long called it a “disappointing start,” but thanked the state for “supporting the team this year.”

The group was most interested in Long’s thoughts on his search for a new football coach and his promise to keep the process confidential. There were no names divulged and no secrets revealed Wednesday.

“It’s something that can’t be done in public,” Long said. “It must be done in confidence, so those who are interested can express their interest without damaging themselves at their current place. Confidentiality is important.”

Long said he’s not currently contacting candidates or their representatives. He said he was contacted by representatives of sitting head coaches in April.

Asked if he’s got a list, Long pointed to his temple, suggesting it was there.

“I don’t have a list in my back pocket,” he said. “But this is what my life is, I do it every day, every week. You know who’s out there. We will find out who is interested in us and who is the right fit.”

Long said he wanted to see how seasons play out. Wins and losses change this every week. He said there is good and bad to having to wait so long to fill the opening.

“It does give you a lot of time to check background,” he said. “But every week things change with wins and losses within the (candidate’s) program. We just continue to do our background and research.”

Long said the timeline hasn’t changed. A decision will probably come soon after the end of the current season. He said he’s “working closely” with Chancellor Richard Gearhart, noting he will also keep the system president and the UA Board of Trustees informed during the search process. He said the visits with Gearhart are daily.

During his time with a large media gathering, Long said he has weekly meetings with his current head coach. Asked if there were discussions about Smith’s remarks in several media sessions, Long said, “Yes, we talked.”

Will a disappointing season impact the type candidates available?

“I don’t think anyone looks at us based on just one season,” Long said. “They look at our resources and that we have a top commitment to athletics. They look at what we’ve done in such a short period.”

What role can fan attendance have in the process?

“I’ve said this many times, one of the reasons we can compete in the toughest division of the toughest conference in the smallest state is our support. It says volumes.

In closing, Long said, “No one is happy where we stand now in 2012 -- no one could be happy. Our players and coaches aren’t happy and none of our administrators are happy. We are just like the fan base. We should be better.”

Clay Henry is publisher at Hawgs Illustrated, an NWA Media publication.

Upcoming Events