FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas announced Sunday they have fired head football coach Sam Pittman, appointing offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino as interim coach for the remainder of the 2025 season.
The move comes after a lopsided 56-13 loss at home to Notre Dame on Saturday.
Athletics director Hunter Yurachek issued a statement expressing gratitude for Pittman’s service while emphasizing the need for change.
“I want to thank Coach Pittman for his service and dedication to the University of Arkansas throughout his time as head coach,” Yurachek said. “From Day 1, you could tell how much this opportunity meant to him. At this time, however, I feel a change is necessary to put our student-athletes and program in the best position to be successful. The goal for our football program is to be highly competitive within the Southeastern Conference and compete for a national championship.”
As the Razorbacks move forward, Yurachek added that Arkansas will immediately launch a national search for a full-time head coach, and that Petrino, whose name has surfaced before, is among those being considered.
“As we move forward … that search will include Coach Petrino, who has expressed his desire to be a candidate for the full-time job,” Yurachek said.
Pittman’s Arkansas tenure: promise unmet
Sam Pittman, age 63, became the 34th head coach in Arkansas football history when hired in December 2019.
Over his six seasons, he compiled a 32-34 overall record, with just 14 wins in Southeastern Conference play.
In his time, Pittman led Arkansas to three bowl victories. But chronic struggles in close games plagued his tenure. Under Pittman, Arkansas was 7-19 in one-possession games. Furthermore, Arkansas recovered just one non-losing SEC season under Pittman.
The Razorbacks entered the 2025 season 2–3, with setbacks including narrow defeats at Ole Miss (41–35) and at Memphis (32–31).
The loss to Notre Dame proved pivotal: Arkansas was overwhelmed, conceding touchdowns on all six first-half drives and trailing 42–13 at halftime.
Return of Petrino as interim
By naming Petrino interim head coach, Arkansas turns to a familiar face. Petrino served as Arkansas’s head coach from 2008 to 2011, compiling a 34–17 record.
His previous tenure ended amid scandal: after a 2012 motorcycle accident, Petrino misled athletic department leadership about a romantic relationship and misused his influence in hiring a subordinate.
Petrino rejoined the Arkansas program in November 2023 as offensive coordinator under Pittman.
Prior to his return, he held various offensive coordinator and head coaching roles elsewhere, including stints at Louisville, Western Kentucky, Missouri State and Texas A&M.
While Petrino’s past raises controversy, his immediate task is to steady the program during a difficult stretch. Arkansas has a bye week before traveling to face Tennessee on Oct. 11.
The program must navigate the remainder of its SEC schedule while also executing a national coaching search.
Observers note that Arkansas’s decision to fire a coach this early in the season is rare. One report observed that the last time Arkansas dismissed a head coach midseason was in 1992, when Jack Crowe was removed after an upset loss to The Citadel.
What’s ahead for Razorbacks
The immediate challenges are substantial:
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Stabilizing morale and performance. The players face uncertainty and must adjust to new leadership midseason.
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Securing commitments from prospective head coaches. Arkansas must present an attractive vision despite its current struggles.
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Protecting recruiting and roster retention. Midseason changes risk losing momentum in the transfer portal and recruiting cycles.
There is also financial complexity: Pittman’s contract reportedly entailed a buyout of nearly $10 million, of which Arkansas owes 75% of remaining compensation. (on3.com)
How fans and boosters will respond remains to be seen. Some critics have questioned the wisdom of returning to Petrino, citing his recruiting shortcomings in past tenures. Others see the move as a stopgap while the university resets.
Key Takeaways
• Arkansas fired Sam Pittman after a 2–3 start and named Bobby Petrino interim for the rest of 2025.
• Pittman departs with a 32–34 record, having struggled in one-possession games and SEC play.
• Petrino, a former Arkansas head coach, returns amid controversy but will be in the running for the permanent role.
