We all expected dominoes to fall. But, not many expected Arkansas to drop a bombshell on Sunday. Ryan Silverfield is the new head coach for Arkansas. Silverfield comes to Arkansas from Memphis, where he has led the Tigers since 2020 as head coach. In those seasons, Silverfield amassed a record of 50-25, including bowl wins in each of the past four seasons. Many will recall that Silverfield was promoted to head coach following the departure of Mike Norvell to Florida State. We at Last Word mentioned that Silverfield was a candidate, but in reality, Arkansas chose its third, or even fourth option, with this hire. We will now take a look at the hire from a fit perspective, what Silverfield needs to do now, and what is on the horizon for Razorbacks football.
Ryan Silverfield Nabbed as Arkansas Head Coach
How Does This Fit?
Silverfield brings a style similar to Sam Pittman. Some could say that Arkansas made the same hire, only six seasons later. The only difference is that Silverfield has experience leading a program, whereas Pittman did not ahead of his opening press conference. This style will be interesting to see if it fits differently under Silverfield. What will be vital is that Silverfield establish a staff that can recruit, develop, and compete within the Southeastern Conference. Which will not be easy.
Speaking of recruiting, this is where the hire may be a blessing in disguise. Silverfield has established a strong relationship with the Memphis area high schools, along with these coaches. This can be fruitful as this transition happens, as these players may follow Silverfield to Fayetteville. This includes touted talent, AJ Hill, who is currently on the Memphis roster and could have an immediate impact on this roster.
Establishing a relationship within Arkansas will be key for Silverfield. In addition, utilizing his already established relationship across Texas, Georgia, and Florida will need to remain strong. What staff will Silverfield hire? Or, will we see him bring Tim Cramsey and Jordon Hankins with him from Memphis? These are questions that will need to be answered swiftly.
Get To Work
We mentioned recruiting and establishing a staff. Additionally, Silverfield will need to win the fans, which will not be easy. According to some social media pages, it seems as if some of the Arkansas fan base are not happy with Hunter Yurachek and his choice of Silverfield. The simplest way to do this is to win games, which Silverfield has shown he can do. Also, Yurachek mentioned this as a reason for the hire, as Silverfield won consistently with the Tigers.
The opening press conference will be on Thursday, December 4th, and all eyes will be on Silverfield as he takes the stage. How will be perform? We will soon find out. Once this commences, the work will immediately have to begin on rebuilding Arkansas football. Let’s not get amnesia; this program has lost 10 consecutive games and finished last in the SEC.
This is a massive rebuild for Silverfield to take on. As we have seen in Memphis, Silverfield pours his all into the position he holds. With this, the position of head coach at Arkansas comes with pressure. Not only are you competing in the SEC, but now, you are also competing with other programs on campus that are national powerhouses within their respective sports. This is new for Silverfield as the Tigers’ football only “competed” with men’s basketball. The smooth transition will be vital for Silverfield as he walks into “Hog Calls” and a rabid fan base that has not been felt before.
What Now?
Now, we wait for the press conference. Additionally, we will begin to see and hear the names that will fill out the staff under Silverfield in Fayetteville. As for Memphis, it has named Reggie Howard as the interim coach. Athletic Director for the Tigers, Ed Scott, announced a national search was underway to find a replacement for Silverfield.
Yurachek needed to make this hire last and stick. In hiring Silverfield, he found a coach who has loyalty to a program for six seasons, and consistent wins followed him. Will we be writing another piece similar to this in six seasons? Possibly less? We will all find out together. For now, it is a new day in Arkansas football, and Silverfield is the man nabbed. If you are a Hog fan, this should be a great day. After all, after ten straight losses, a new regime should breathe new life into a bottom dweller. In the end, Silverfield is now the Arkansas head coach. Will wins follow?
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