Arkansas adds ex-NFL assistant Hayes to staff amid defensive overhaul
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Interim Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has added long-time NFL assistant Jay Hayes to his coaching staff as the Razorbacks’ new defensive line coach, a move aimed at stabilizing a defense in disarray after a tumultuous coaching shakeup.
Hayes brings more than two decades of experience at the highest levels of football.
He spent 13 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals coaching players such as Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, and has also worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.
His collegiate resume includes stints at Notre Dame and Wisconsin.
During Arkansas’ SEC teleconference, Petrino said he had a clear target for the hire.
“I think I got the guy I want, working hard on it,” he said.
The hire follows Petrino dismissing three defensive coaches — coordinator Travis Williams, co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson, and defensive line coach Deke Adams — in rapid succession as part of a broader staff overhaul.
A rapid defensive reset
The firing of Williams, Woodson and Adams came just a day after Petrino was named interim head coach following the dismissal of Sam Pittman.
Athletics director Hunter Yurachek cited the team’s 56–13 home loss to Notre Dame and other defensive lapses as justification.
In the midst of the transition, Arkansas elevated Chris Wilson, previously an assistant defensive line coach, to interim defensive coordinator. Che Hendrix was appointed safeties coach, while graduate assistants were tapped to help with linebackers.
On the offensive side, Kolby Smith was promoted to interim offensive coordinator, though Petrino retains play-calling duties.
Arkansas’ official athletics department confirmed these adjustments and highlighted Wilson’s experience, which includes a Super Bowl ring earned while on the Philadelphia Eagles staff.
Jay Hayes steps into a critical role
Hayes joins Arkansas at a pivotal moment. The defense will face high expectations under new leadership just as the team prepares for an October 11 matchup at No. 15 Tennessee.
In addition to his NFL background, Hayes’ previous collegiate coaching experience gives him bridges with coaches and prospects in both the professional and college ranks.
Petrino, a veteran coach with multiple stints in both college and the NFL, is seeking continuity and leadership on defense.
The new hire not only fills a gap in the staff but also signals a renewed emphasis on defensive identity.
Challenges ahead and expectations
Hayes inherits a defensive line that struggled early and faces a demanding SEC schedule.
Evaluating and integrating new schemes midseason is never simple, but the urgency is at the top of the list.
The Razorbacks’ performance in the coming weeks may shape the direction of the coaching search after the 2025 season.
Petrino, a candidate for the permanent head coaching role, must show that he can stabilize the program. His decisions now in personnel and performance will influence whether he remains part of the long-term plan.
The strategic implications of this hire are clear. Arkansas is relying on a veteran voice with NFL credibility to bring structure, discipline and renewed confidence to the front line of its defense.
Key takeaways
• Arkansas has hired Jay Hayes, a veteran NFL defensive coach, as the new defensive line coach under interim head coach Bobby Petrino.
• The move follows a sweeping defensive staff overhaul, including the dismissal of three defensive assistants and the promotion of internal coaches to coordinate the unit.
• Hayes enters a challenging environment, expected to stabilize the defensive line midseason and help shape Arkansas’ defensive identity moving forward.
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Razorbacks report mostly healthy roster heading into new season
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas men’s basketball is preparing to roll into the 2025–26 season in better shape than in recent years.
With fewer injury questions hovering over the roster, John Calipari can lean on more availability among his core contributors.
Fland, who starred for Arkansas in 2024–25, is no longer on the roster, transferring to Florida.
That leaves the Hogs’ health updates to focus on the players who remain in Fayetteville.
Health check among returners and newcomers
One of the more positive developments is that forward Karter Knox, who flirted with the NBA draft, decided to withdraw and return to Arkansas.
That continuity up front is a stabilizing factor, especially with the departures the program has faced.
Guard D.J. Wagner returns as a steady presence in the backcourt. His availability for full preseason camp lets the team build chemistry earlier than in previous seasons.
On the front line, Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle, transfers now in the mix, seem healthy in early workouts and are expected to compete for minutes.
Meanwhile, Billy Richmond III, who played all 36 games last season, returns as a versatile wing option.
Also worth watching will be Trevon Brazile, a veteran forward, remains in the fold and offers positional flexibility.
Deeper, healthier roster provides options
With Fland gone and other departures already accounted for, Arkansas no longer must piece together lineups delayed by lengthy recoveries.
The expectation is the coaching staff can manage rotations more aggressively because fewer players will be limited.
Kansas, Duke, Louisville, and Michigan State are all part of the nonconference schedule. Those matchups will be early tests of how well the roster fits together when fewer bodies are sidelined.
Because of the improved health outlook, Calipari can ramp practices up more consistently, push strength work more confidently, and give younger players extended looks against live defenses.
Cautious optimism for year two in Fayetteville
Calipari knows that health is only one part of the equation in the ultra-competitive SEC. But starting the season with fewer question marks makes a difference in preparation and execution.
He put it simply: when more guys are available, “practices look different.” He’s talked about how having players off the sideline in recent years disrupted rhythm and limited what could be taught.
Arkansas faces a gauntlet in conference play—with contenders like Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee in the mix—but depth and health might be the underappreciated advantages this season.
If the key returners hold up and the new faces stay consistent, the Razorbacks may be better positioned than they’ve been in years to compete in every game.
Key Takeaways
• Boogie Fland has transferred to Florida, so health stories now focus solely on returning Razorbacks and new additions.
• Karter Knox’s return, plus contributions expected from Wagner, Richmond III, Brazile, Ewin and Pringle, strengthen Arkansas’ depth.
• A healthier, more available roster lets Calipari push the pace and manage rotations more aggressively in the challenging 2025–26 slate.
