Arkansas to bring back Pittman amid 4-7 season

Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff WriterNov 19, 2023, 11:58 AM ET
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- Covers the SEC.
- Joined ESPN in 2012.
- Graduate of Auburn University.

Arkansas is standing pat with football coach Sam Pittman as the team heads into the final week of the regular season with a 4-7 record.

Athletic director Hunter Yurachek informed coaches and players of his decision to retain Pittman following Saturday’s 44-20 win over FIU.

“This has not been the season any of us anticipated,” Yurachek said in a statement on social media. “We have work to do. I am confident that together, we can meet the goals and expectations of our program.”

A longtime offensive line coach who is viewed as one of the top recruiters in the SEC, Pittman was hired by Arkansas before the 2020 season.

After a rocky first season under Pittman, the Razorbacks won nine games in 2021. They followed that up with seven wins and a second straight bowl victory last season.

But 2023 has proved difficult. After starting out with wins over Western Carolina and Kent State, Arkansas lost six straight games.

Pittman fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos after a 7-3 loss to Mississippi State.

But there were glimmers of hope during the losing streak. Five of the losses — including setbacks against Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss — were by a touchdown or less.

Arkansas will close out the regular season at home against No. 9 Missouri on Friday.