Just as it started to look like Sam Pittman’s coaching staff was in place for the 2023 season, offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has officially decided to jump ship to TCU.
It’s unusual for a coach to have to replace a coordinator this late into the off-season, but these are unusual times for college football. Arkansas will enter the 2023 season without either coordinator from 2022. It’s a tough spot for Pittman and the school to be in, but their track record with coaching hires this offseason has been really solid.
At defensive coordinator, they replaced Barry Odom with up-and-comer Travis Williams and co-coordinator Marcus Woodson. Both have SEC connections from their time at Auburn and are considered to be elite recruiters.
After Dowell Loggains left, Pittman hired Morgan Turner from Stanford as the new tight ends coach. Turner has built quite a resume of tight ends that have gone on to be successful in the NFL and is also regarded as a great recruiter. If you include the new strength and conditioning coach, Ben Sowders, then it’s been a really good offseason for Pittman as far as staff turnover goes.
However, he’s now face with arguably his most important hire to date. Arkansas was No. 15 in total offense last season and looking to be even better in 2023. Losing Briles is tough, but the right hire can definitely soften the blow.
Here’s a look at seven candidates that could be on Arkansas’ radar as the next offensive coordinator.
Dowell Loggains (South Carolina OC)
(Wesley Hitt – Getty Images)
One of the first names that will probably be mentioned by lot of Razorback fans is former tight ends coach Dowell Loggains. This move is likely not happening after Loggains took the job as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator in December.
It was heavily reported that he was the “offensive coordinator in-waiting” behind Briles while at Arkansas, but now it seems that ship has sailed with him to Columbia. While he was…
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