FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Sunday evening that newly appointed Georgia Coach Kirby Smart called him early Sunday to inquire about talking to offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
Speaking at a press conference to discuss the Razorbacks’ Liberty Bowl bid, Bielema was asked about Internet chatter regarding Enos, who has directed Arkansas to the No. 33 ranking in total offense with 456.8 yards per game in his first season in the SEC.
“Kirby called me early this morning, asked me for permission to talk to Dan and I just basically said, I understand if you’ve got to talk to Dan, if that’s something you want to do, but he’s got a non-compete clause in the SEC,” Bielema said. “So that kind of null and voids those things from really becoming real within our conference.”
Bielema credited Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long with encouraging him to put the non-compete clause in the contracts of his most recent hires.
Enos, who resigned as head coach at Central Michigan to join Bielema’s staff, accepted a three-year contract for $550,000 per year in January.
Enos’ contract, signed Jan. 22, has a section covering the non-compete clause that reads, “You covenant and agree not to accept employment in any coaching capacity, except for a head coach position, with any other SEC institution … prior to the expiration date of the term and any mutually agreed upon extensions of the term.”