The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Arkansas: a football coaching history

National Program II#52 of 138–
See Arkansas’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches
Program GOAT
Frank Broyles
Peaked at Power Program I
Built by
Frank Broyles
National Program I → Power Program I (+22.9)
The fall
Jack Crowe
Power Program II → Power Program III (−10.7)
Right now
Ryan Silverfield
in year 1 — too new to place in Arkansas's history

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)ThomsenBroylesHoltzHatfieldFordNuttPetrinoBielemaPittman19401960198020002020

Every coach

2026–now
Ryan Silverfieldshort tenure
0–0
2020–now
Sam Pittmancaretaker
Sam Pittman held Arkansas at National Program II for 6 seasons.
National Program II
32–34
2019–2019
Barry Lunney Jr.short tenure
0–2
2018–2019
Chad Morrisshort tenure
4–18
2013–2017
Bret Bielemacaretaker
Bret Bielema held Arkansas at Power Program III for 5 seasons.
Power Program III
29–34
2012–2012
John Smithshort tenure
4–8
2008–now
Bobby Petrinocaretaker
Bobby Petrino held Arkansas at Power Program III for 5 seasons.
Power Program III
34–24
1998–2007
Houston Nuttcaretaker
Houston Nutt moved Arkansas from National Program II to Power Program III in 10 seasons.
+11.9
75–48
1993–1997
Danny Fordcaretaker
Danny Ford held Arkansas at Power Program III for 5 seasons.
−8.2
25–31
1992–1992
Joe Kinesshort tenure
3–6
1990–1992
Jack Crowecaretaker
Jack Crowe held Arkansas at Power Program II for 3 seasons.
−10.7
9–15
1984–1989
Ken Hatfieldinheritor
Ken Hatfield inherited a Power Program I Arkansas and won with it.
Power Program II
55–17
1977–1983
Lou Holtzinheritor
Lou Holtz inherited a Power Program I Arkansas and won with it.
Power Program I
60–21
1958–1976
Frank Broylestransformer
Frank Broyles took Arkansas from National Program I to Power Program I.
+22.9
144–58
1955–1957
Jack Mitchellcaretaker
Jack Mitchell moved Arkansas from National Program II to National Program I in 3 seasons.
National Program I
17–12
1953–1954
Bowden Wyattshort tenure
11–10
1950–1952
Otis Douglascaretaker
Otis Douglas held Arkansas at National Program II for 3 seasons.
National Program II
9–21
1946–1949
John Barnhillcaretaker
John Barnhill moved Arkansas from Regional Program II to National Program II in 4 seasons.
+11.8
22–17
1944–1945
Glen Roseshort tenure
8–12
1943–1943
John Tomlinshort tenure
2–7
1942–1942
George Coleshort tenure
3–7
1936–1941
Fred Thomsencaretaker
Fred Thomsen held Arkansas at National Program I for 6 seasons.
National Program I
26–30