Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Arkansas Football: Razorbacks hit home run with Chad Morris hire

By Dana Becker

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Chad Morris of the Southern Methodist Mustangs celebrates with Jackson Mitchell #44 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs after the Southern Methodist Mustangs beat the Houston Cougars 38-16 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Chad Morris of the Southern Methodist Mustangs celebrates with Jackson Mitchell #44 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs after the Southern Methodist Mustangs beat the Houston Cougars 38-16 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Arkansas football team has officially moved forward, hiring former SMU head coach Chad Morris to the same position.

Reports indicate that Morris told his SMU players on Wednesday.

Morris replaces Bret Bielema, who was fired after going 4-8 this past season at Arkansas. The former Wisconsin head coach went 29-34 over five years with the program, including an 11-29 record in the SEC.

According to ESPN, Morris has signed a six-year deal that will pay him in the $4 million range annually.

The 49-year-old Morris went 14-22 with the Mustangs over three seasons, improving from two wins his first year to five last year. This season, SMU went 7-5 and was selected for the DXL Frisco Bowl on December 20 against Louisiana Tech.

Morris began his coaching career in 1994 at Eustace High School in Texas. From 1994-2009 he led five Texas high schools to mush success, gooing 169-38 including back-to-back 16-0 seasons in 2008 and 2009 that resulted in state titles.

In 2010, Tulsa hired Morris to be the associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He moved on to Clemson the following year, turning the Tigers into one of the most prolific offenses in the country.

With Morris calling the offense, Clemson went 42-11 in four seasons and he became one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the country.

Morris interviewed for the Texas Tech head coaching position in 2012 before agreeing to become SMU’s head coach in 2014. His first two classes with the Mustangs consisted solely of Texas-based high school recruits.

The bowl appearances for SMU under Morris is the first since the 2012 season when they competed in the Hawai’i Bowl against Fresno State, scoring a 43-10 victry.

Others who were rumored to be a candidate for the Arkansas opening includes Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and Memphis head coach Mike Norvell.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round after Week 14

Arkansas also recently hired a new athletic director, tabbing Houston’s Hunter Yurachek to the position.

Home/Arkansas Razorbacks