FAYETTEVILLE -- Every incoming head coach and CEO should commence their new job heeding what Dave Van Horn advised Tony Vitello.
A 2014-2017 Arkansas assistant to Van Horn become Tennessee's head coach in 2018, Vitello's nationally No. 4 SEC East leading Volunteers host Van Horn's nationally No. 1 SEC West leading Razorbacks in a huge 3-game SEC baseball series that started Friday night in Knoxville, Tenn. and continues today and Sunday.
As hitting coach/recruiting coordinator, Vitello helped the 2015 Razorbacks reach the College World Series between 2014 and 2017 Regional finalists and recruited the gist of their 2018 and 2019 College World Series teams.
As they parted, Van Horn advised Vitello what Van Horn followed in 2003 succeeding retired Hall of Fame Arkansas Coach Norm DeBriyn for whom Van Horn played (1982) then assisted (1985-88).
"I told him, just go in there and work," Van Horn said. "Don't say a whole lot. Don't talk (negatively) about the former coach's players that are still in the program. Just work and the ones that are good enough are still going to be there and go get your own. Mix them together and you're going to have a good team. That's what they got."
Van Horn debuted reaching Regionals in 2003 then ascending the 2004 Hogs to a SEC championship into the College World Series. The 2004 Hogs blended DeBriyn holdovers like Charley Boyce, Brady Toops, and Scott Hode with such Van Horn recruits as Jay Sawatski, Jake Dugger and Danny Hamblin.
While thoroughly in command, Van Horn arrived questioning and evaluating, not ballyhooing sweeping changes as if egotistically cocksure of knowing all the answers.
Given the self-created messes they constantly stepped in, the latter approach immediately stained the Arkansas eras of former Chancellor John White and former Athletic Director Jeff Long.
Compare to current Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek. Yurachek arrived asking and learning then subtly fused the variously disparate sports programs with a common goal succeeding on and off the field.
"I just think Hunter's done a great job of bringing us all closer together," Arkansas Men's Golf Coach Brad McMakin said. "Making it win as one Razorback. Just the whole atmosphere is better."
In Razorbacks football, compare the beginning eras of Chad Morris to Yurachek hire Sam Pittman.
Some players inherited from predecessor Bret Bielema said that Morris upon arrival asserted had they previously done their jobs the UA wouldn't have needed to change coaches.
Contrast to Pittman's first words to those he inherited from Morris.
"I told them they didn't recruit me, but I sure as hell recruited them," Pittman said.
The contrasting inspirational results - zero SEC successes during Morris' two seasons vs. Pittman's three SEC victories debuting last year - speaks volumes.
Seems the volume booms happily throughout Arkansas' men's and women's sports.
"We pull for each other," Van Horn said. "It's been a tremendous year for all our programs. As good of a year as I've seen and I've been here a long time now."