Arkansas football: Worst head coach hires in program history

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Sam Pittman’s seat is heating up at Arkansas with the Razorbacks failing to reach a bowl game for the second time in his four years in Fayetteville. The SEC is getting even tougher in 2024 and Pittman will need to turn things around fast in a loaded conference to keep his job.

Things have certainly been headed in the wrong direction since Arkansas’s 9-4 record and Outback Bowl win in 2021, but just that season alone is enough to make the Sam Pittman hire a lot better than quite a few others in program history.

The Razorbacks have had eight head coaches since 1990 and five of them have made this list. If Arkansas does move on from Pittman, either this year or next, it’s no guarantee that the next guy will be better. Though I’m fairly certain it’s impossible to be worse than No. 1 on this list. Let’s get into it.

Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman walks on the field during the first half against the Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 4, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun] /

player. 844. . . . Sam Pittman. 6

For a moment in 2021, it seemed like Sam Pittman was the guy. Now, that’s clearly not the case. Pittman has had the same quarterback for basically his entire tenure and has done very little to support KJ Jefferson. Basically once Treylon Burks left for the NFL, Jefferson was left for dead.

Following that 9-4 season in 2021, Arkansas regressed to 7-6 and then to 3-7 through Week 11 of 2023. He’ll need a serious influx of talent to save his job and so far he hasn’t shown an ability to recruit at the level or bring in high-impact players through the transfer portal.

Pittman is at No. 6 on this list because of one good season and two bowl game wins. That’s how low the bar is at Arkansas since 1990.

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