Anderson says Thurman hire wasn't "knee-jerk"

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson speaks to the media during a news conference Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson speaks to the media during a news conference Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

— Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said much thought went into his decision to shake up his staff this off-season.

Anderson met with the media Thursday, one day after the Razorbacks officially announced Scotty Thurman would replace Matt Zimmerman as a full-time assistant coach. It is the first time Anderson has changed any of his full-time assistant coaching staff since his first season at Missouri in 2006.

The Razorbacks are coming off a 16-16 season in which they missed the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in Anderson's five seasons.

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"It's not a knee-jerk reaction," Anderson said. "...I'm not one of those guys that's going to panic. I'm never too high, never too low. I think it's the same way with our program."

Anderson defended his decision to replace Zimmerman - a 14-year college coaching veteran - with Thurman, who has no college coaching experience.

Thurman, who Anderson recruited to the Razorbacks while an assistant in the early 1990s, has been with the program as an administrator since John Pelphrey was head coach. Anderson said Thurman helped with his transition when he was hired by Arkansas in 2011.

While Thurman has not been able to recruit off-campus, Anderson said he has identified potential recruits from his position as director of student-athlete development.

"He's not that far removed from the game," Anderson said. "Scotty has coached AAU and has coached high school ball. He's very talented.

"He has a masters degree and has taught college classes. He is very sharp. He can relate with kids and they can relate with him."

Thurman was an all-SEC player at Arkansas and was on the Razorbacks' NCAA championship team in 1994. In addition to his administrative role, he has been the color commentator on the program's radio broadcasts the last two seasons.

"Having the opportunity to sit there the past few years...has been somewhat challenging," Thurman said. "When you're a former player, you feel like you bring some skills to the table, but obviously you have to pay your dues. I've paid those dues."

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