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Arkansas football should use David Cutcliffe formula in coaching search

By Dante Pryor

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 10: Players of the Arkansas Razorbacks greets fans during the walk into the stadium before a game against the LSU Tigers at Razorback Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 10: Players of the Arkansas Razorbacks greets fans during the walk into the stadium before a game against the LSU Tigers at Razorback Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Leach of the Washington State Cougars stands on the sidelines during their game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Leach of the Washington State Cougars stands on the sidelines during their game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Mike Leach, Washington State (HC)

The fit with Mike Leach is quite obvious. Mike Leach knows how to win and maintain success at out of the way places. More specifically, he knows how to win at places where he can be himself.

Some of his “unique” sound bites and love for — and talking about — pirates wouldn’t go over in certain places. No matter what Arkansas thinks of itself, it’s an out of the way job. There are certain characteristics you need as a coach to have success in obscure places, and Leach has them.

Recruiting

Mike Leach has never had a top 10 recruiting class in his coaching career. During his time at Texas Tech and his time at Washington State, he’s never had a roster full of four and five star recruits, but he’s still won. Leach recruits his type of player. It’s hard enough getting talent to Lubbock and Pullman, and he’s found a way to get the right players to fit what he wants to do on the field.

Scheme

The Air-Raid, developed by he and Hal Mumme at Valdosta State, is a system of interchangeable parts. It’s a system that values discipline and intelligence over complexity. Leach wants to spread you out, find the open guy, and get him the ball. It made Kentucky competitive, worked at Texas Tech and garnered him an 11-win season at Washington State.

Arkansas is in a place where it’s difficult to recruit because the state isn’t a fertile ground. It was difficult enough going into Texas to recruit, but having a Lone Star State team in the SEC — Texas A&M — makes it that much more difficult. Leach can get his guys, and out-scheme his opponents.

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