The reports coming out Thursday that Arkansas assistant coach Scotty Thurman wouldn’t be part of new coach Eric Musselman’s staff is disappointing to many fans, but probably shouldn’t be that surprising.
Multiple media outlets have reported Thurman was offered an administrative position as director of student-athlete development, but declined. He had been on former coach Mike Anderson’s staff the past three seasons.
Thurman hit the 3-pointer at the end that secured the Razorbacks’ only national championship, but he was not selected in the NBA draft after the following season and had worked as Arkansas’ director of student-athlete development for six years before Anderson added him to the coaching staff.
When Musselman was hired earlier in April, Thurman was seen in some of the practice videos from the UA working the drills. Musselman had spoken highly of Thurman in his initial press conference, but obviously has decided to go in a different direction.
The other assistants on the staff, Melvin Watkins and T.J. Cleveland, were not retained after Anderson was fired on March 26 after eight seasons.
It is not unusual for new coaches to put together a staff with no holdovers from the previous coach … right or wrong.
Which is why Thurman not being retained shouldn’t be that surprising.
The Hogs had announced Wednesday the hiring of former NBA player and Seton Hall coach Corey Williams to Musselman’s staff. There will be a couple of others added, too.
It’s a good bet those assistants will have some sort of NBA experience along with college.
That seems to be the direction Musselman wants to go.
