Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE- Kentucky defensive line coach Derrick LeBlanc is leaving the Wildcats to join new new Arkansas coach Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks  staff, the Lexington (Ky.) Herald Leader has reported.

LeBlanc presumably will coach the Arkansas defensive line or at least some positions on the defensive line since Pittman did not retain defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell and defensive tackles coach Kenny Ingram from the previous Razorbacks staff of Chad Morris.

LeBlanc coached the defensive line for the last three seasons under Mark Stoops and previously be a defensive line coach at the University of North Texas, Southern Miss and Wyoming.

He previously was a strength coach at LSU and on the FCS level coached defensive lines at Arkansas Tech, Henderson State and Missouri State.

A native of Breaux Bridge, La., LeBlanc played his college ball in Louisiana at Northwestern State.

So far on Pittman’s eventual 10-man staff Pittman has hired defensive coordinator Barry Odom, the former Missouri head coach, offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, most recently the offensive coordinator at Florida State, offensive line Brad Davis, the former Missouri offensive line coach, linebackers coach Rion Rhoades and cornerbacks coach Sam Carter and from Morris’ staff retained receivers coach Justin Stepp.

Pittman is expected officially to name Jon Cooper, an assistant at the University of Central Florida, as tight ends coach.Aside from completing his 10-man fulltime staff, Pittman has the head strength and conditioining coach vacancy to fill