Everything one of the projected leaders for rebuilt defense said in Atlanta from Tye’s pick as best player for Hogs.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-22-25
Name that Razorback! Are you struggling to keep up with the football roster? What’s really in a name, or two, or three? SEC vs Big Ten dominance.
Guests: Xavian Sorey Jr. and Tom Murphy!
Trainor named Arkansas Alumni Association COO after athletics layoffs
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Kevin Trainor, who spent three decades with the University of Arkansas athletics department, has been named chief operating officer and associate executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association.
The association announced the hiring Monday. Trainor, most recently senior associate athletic director for public relations, will stay with athletics until July 31 and begin his new role Aug. 1 ahead of the fall semester.
“I’m very excited about this position,” Trainor said. “It’s really an opportunity to continue to invest in the University of Arkansas and the relationships I’ve built over 30 years. I’m a two-time graduate and I know the University of Arkansas is flourishing, so to be able to be a part of that under chancellor Charles Robinson’s leadership was really a great opportunity for me.”
The move comes as the Arkansas athletics department undergoes major personnel changes.
About 10% of the department’s staff was recently laid off in response to financial pressures and college sports’ changing revenue landscape, according to athletics director Hunter Yurachek.
Trainor confirmed he was involved in the layoffs while serving as moderator at SEC Media Days in Atlanta, a position he has held for 14 years.
Brandy Cox, executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association, said Trainor’s experience will benefit the organization.
“Kevin is a tremendous leader who brings integrity, vision and a wealth of experience to our team,” Cox said. “Like Kevin, I consider the University of Arkansas not just my alma mater, but my home. Our students and alumni are my family.”
Trainor said Cox and the association have supported his work moderating SEC Media Days, as well as his representation of Arkansas at the College Football Playoff national championship game and other national events.
A native of Fredonia, Kan., Trainor earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arkansas in 1994 and a master’s in 2005.
He has served as sport administrator for Arkansas baseball for 15 years and is a member of the executive board of College Sports Communicators, for which he served as president. He also consults for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and is a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association of America and the National College Baseball Writers Association.
Trainor’s family has deep ties to the university. His wife, Ruth, is a graduate, and their daughters, Emma and Ellie, are part of the Razorback community.
His brother, Kendall Trainor, is a University of Arkansas Hall of Honor inductee and was a first-team All-America kicker for the Razorbacks in 1988.
The Arkansas Alumni Association, which connects more than 120,000 alumni worldwide, described Trainor’s hiring as a “major step forward” as it adapts to changing university and alumni needs.
The university is facing a period of transition as it responds to new financial realities in college athletics and seeks to strengthen ties with graduates.
Trainor’s experience moderating SEC media days and managing complex communications challenges has made him a familiar face to Razorback fans and the broader college athletics community.
The alumni association, under Cox’s leadership since 2023, has expanded its outreach to young alumni and underrepresented groups, moving to a more inclusive membership model. Cox, a first-generation college graduate, said making every graduate feel valued is a priority.
Some fans and former staff have voiced concern about recent layoffs and the loss of long-serving employees. University officials have said the changes are necessary for the department’s long-term sustainability.
Trainor said his focus remains on building relationships and representing the university.
“I’ve been lucky to call this place home for 30 years,” he said. “Now I get to help others feel at home here, too.”
The Arkansas Alumni Association hopes Trainor’s experience and institutional knowledge will help engage alumni and support the university through its next chapter.
Ruscin & Zach July 21
Just some summer time show stuff. Bill gets a new car and callers are trying to fix what is wrong with Razorback football.
Pig Trail Nation’s Mike Irwin on incoming freshman may play big role now
Razorbacks lose Ismael Cisse, which could open the door for former Warren Lumberjack Antonio Jordan to catch passes from Taylen Green.
Razorbacks’ defensive lineman Cam Ball on personal loss, season ahead
Talking with Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft on The Morning Rush on ESPN Arkansas as fall camp nears start.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-21-25
Scottie Scheffler dominates The Open, becoming more “Tiger-esque.” National Junk Food Day. Recruiting prisons.
Guests: Cam Ball
WATCH: The Morning Rush is LIVE
Call or text us on the Lewis Automotive Group Hotline at 877-377-6963!
Razorbacks commit JJ Andrews named Peach Jam MVP for Brad Beal Elite
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Arkansas basketball commit JJ Andrews was named Most Valuable Player of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Peach Jam after leading Brad Beal Elite to a second consecutive championship.
Andrews, a 6-foot-6 wing from Little Rock ranked No. 20 nationally in the class of 2026, averaged 18.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game over eight games at the tournament, according to On3. He led Brad Beal Elite in minutes, points and fouls drawn, and was second on the team in rebounds and steals.
Brad Beal Elite played with only seven players but relied on Andrews for both production and leadership. He shot 47.1 percent from the field and 73.2 percent from the free-throw line as his team navigated the country’s top grassroots competition.
“JJ is a bulldog,” Fox College Hoops commentator John Fanta told HawgBeat. “The guy was just a relentless competitor all week who is shifty in the lane and doesn’t stop until he gets to and finishes at the rim. He’s a John Calipari wing and will fit in perfectly.”
Andrews’ most notable outing came in the quarterfinals against Team Durant, when he scored 25 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out three assists, going 7 of 14 from the field and 11 of 15 from the line. His playmaking and ability to draw fouls helped Brad Beal Elite to a dominant win.
The Peach Jam, held annually in North Augusta, is regarded as the premier event on the Nike EYBL circuit and a showcase for future college and professional players.
Andrews’ performance drew attention from recruiting analysts and national media. Jamie Shaw of Rivals named Andrews a top performer entering championship Sunday, and his run at Peach Jam is likely to boost his recruiting ranking in future updates.
Andrews continues to build an impressive high school resume and could become one of the most decorated Arkansas high school recruits in recent history if he maintains his level of play.
Arkansas coach John Calipari, who watched Andrews at multiple games during the tournament, has praised the commitment and talent of his future player.
With the MVP honor, Andrews joins a list of past Peach Jam standouts who have gone on to college and professional careers. His leadership and consistency were central to Brad Beal Elite’s run to consecutive Peach Jam titles.
As the summer circuit ends, Andrews stands as a symbol of Arkansas’s recruiting momentum and the potential for in-state talent to lift the Razorbacks on a national stage.
