FAYETTEVILLE -- New Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves has the Florida recruiting connections coveted by Coach Bret Bielema and is expected to hit the recruiting trail for the Razorbacks today.
Arkansas announced the hiring of Hargreaves, 52, on Tuesday. The former All-America linebacker at Connecticut has 30 years of coaching experience, including the past two at the University of Houston.
Vernon Hargreaves glance
POSITION Linebackers
AGE 52 (April 8, 1962)
HOMETOWN New Haven, Conn.
Family Wife: Jackie. Children: Carina, Vernon III, Chanelle
ALMA MATER Connecticut
PLAYING CAREER Four-year letterman at linebacker at UConn (1980-1983), All-American in 1982 and 1983
COACHING CAREER Connecticut outside linebackers (1985-1989) and inside linebackers (1990-1997); University of Miami linebackers (1998-2005); Florida International linebackers (2006); Bowling Green linebackers (2007); East Carolina defensive ends/special teams (2007-2008); South Florida defensive ends/special teams (2010-2012); University of Houston linebackers (2013-2014)
Hargreaves, who signed a one-season agreement for $275,000 on Tuesday that extends through June 30, 2016, will follow in the footsteps of Randy Shannon for the second time in his career. Hargreaves succeeded Shannon as linebackers coach at the University of Miami in 1998 when Shannon took a job with the Miami Dolphins.
"When he left Miami back in 1998, that's when I got the job there and it turned out pretty good, so hopefully we can make history repeat itself," Hargreaves said, in a reference to Miami's 2002 BCS national championship.
Hargreaves said he recently talked with Shannon about Arkansas.
"[Shannon] didn't have anything but great things to say about everybody on the staff and everything else," Hargreaves said.
Hargreaves said his talks with Bielema about the linebackers job at Arkansas began about 10 days to two weeks ago.
"He is very thorough in everything he does in terms of making sure he gets the right guys in place and everything else, and I think he went through the process and I was fortunate enough to come out with it at the end," Hargreaves said. "I'm glad he chose me."
Bielema had indicated that recruiting experience in south Florida was a primary focus for his next linebackers coach.
"I am very excited about Coach Hargreaves as the newest addition to our excellent coaching staff," Bielema said in a university news release. "I have known Vernon for more than a decade, and he has the ability and proven experience to adapt to multiple systems as a linebackers coach.
"His championship pedigree will make our linebackers better and help us continue recruiting from coast to coast."
Hargreaves coached NFL standouts Jonathan Vilma, Dan Morgan and D.J. Williams during his career with Miami.
Hargreaves, the father of Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, said he attende the Razorbacks' 30-10 loss at Florida in 2013 and has a feel for SEC football.
"It's a big-time brand of football," Hargreaves said. "There's a lot of great athletes and great players. It doesn't get any better."
Hargreaves coached linebackers for 13 seasons at his alma mater UConn (1985-1997) before working at Miami for eight seasons, followed by stints at Florida International, Bowling Green, East Carolina, South Florida and Houston.
With the hiring of Hargreaves, Bielema filled one of the two vacant positions on his coaching staff. He's still hunting for an offensive coordinator to replace Jim Chaney.
Sports on 01/21/2015