Report: Arkansas to hire Pelphrey

Apr 9, 2007, 4:20 GMT

Fayetteville, AR - The University of Arkansas will reportedly name South Alabama's John Pelphrey as the new head coach of the Razorbacks.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports Pelphrey agreed to become the coach Sunday and the school was expected to make the hiring official on Monday.

South Alabama finished with a 20-12 record this past season, Pelphrey's fifth season with the Jaguars. In 2006, Pelphrey led the Jags to the Sun Belt Conference West Division title, Sun Belt Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.

Pelphrey's five-year record at South Alabama stands at 80-67.

This would mark a return to the Southeastern Conference for Pelphrey, who played at Kentucky from 1988-92.

The hiring of Pelphrey would end a rocky process for the Razorbacks. They fired Stan Heath last month. Dana Altman then agreed to take the job, but one day later changed his mind and returned to Creighton.

The Razorbacks were in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament this year, but a run to the SEC Tournament title game helped them gain an at-large bid. They were rewarded with a 12th seed in the NCAA tourney and dropped a 77-60 decision to Southern California in the first round to complete a 21-14 season.

The Razorbacks also suffered a first-round loss in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, an appearance that ended a four-year NCAA drought.

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