Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Sam Pittman apparently has parted company with tight ends coach Jon Cooper.

Cooper, whose parting has been conjectured by media outlets, was temporarily replaced on Arkansas’ virtual visit for 2022 instate recruits by graduate assistant Ryan Yurachek, the son of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek and a former All-Conference tight end at Marshall University and former Dallas Cowboys free agent.

It is believed Pittman seeks a more experienced permanent replacement for Cooper.

Pittman recently promoted Michael Scherer, the defensive quality control coach and former Missouri linebacker and then grad assistant coach during Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom’s Mizzou head coaching tenure, to linebackers coach and is believed to be reassigning linebackers coach Rion Rhoades to an administrative position.

Also after receivers coach Justin Stepp, a Columbia, S.C. native, opted to return to his hometown as receivers coach at the University of South Carolina, hired Kenny Guiton as receivers coach.

Guiton coached Colorado State receivers in 2020 and previously coached receivers at the University of Houston with Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and also coached receivers at Louisiana Tech.
The staff changes come between the completed December recruiting early signing period and February's signing period.