In an eight-month coaching search filled with speculation about home run hires, Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long has delivered a shot very few saw coming.
Wisconsin's Bret Bielema is expected to be named coach at Arkansas.
Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema has agreed to become head coach of the Razorbacks. Hawgs247 first reported the hire at about 2 p.m. Central on Tuesday, and the UA sent out a press release at 6:15 p.m. confirming it.
“I am very humbled and honored to become the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks,” Bielema said in the press release. “During my conversation with Jeff, he described the characteristics for the perfect fit to lead this program. It was evident we share the same mission, principles and goals. The infrastructure in place at Arkansas shows the commitment from the administration to accomplish our goals together and I am excited to begin to lead this group of student-athletes. This program will represent the state of Arkansas in a way Razorback fans everywhere will be proud of.”
A formal press conference to announce the hire will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. Central at the Broyles Center.
Bielema, 42, has helped Wisconsin earn three straight Rose Bowl bids, compiling a 68-24 record in seven seasons as head coach. The Badgers have won at least 10 games four times under Bielema and have had three seasons in which they’ve finished in the Top 10 of The Associated Press poll.
His current team is 8-5 and coming off a 70-31 win over Nebraska on Saturday in the Big Ten ChampionshipGame. The Badgers will face BCS No. 6 Stanford on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl.
“Bret Bielema is an exceptional leader of young men and an outstanding football coach who has proven his program is centered on establishing an unshakable foundation that emphasizes the development of each student-athlete as an individual,” Long said. "Coach Bielema has led his team to a historic run of championships while seeing a record number of student-athletes recognized for academic achievement.
"Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to competing for a national championship with a program known for discipline, honesty and integrity. His tough, aggressive style of play has been successful and will be appealing to student-athletes and Razorback fans. He not only shares the vision and values for the future of Arkansas football, he embraces them.”
Bielema, a Prophetstown, Ill., native, played and coached at Iowa before moving on to Kansas State in 2002, where he spent two seasons as Bill Snyder’s defensive coordinator. He was Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator in 2004-2005 before becoming head coach.
- Robert Turbeville
- Arkansas Insider - Hawgs247
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SigmaCane1914 ●
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Woodshed 1914 ●
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Goud21
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Goud21 said...
Best of luck to you. The guys struggles in big games (I was shocked at their performance this past weekend). As someone who's watched Wisconsin football for the last 31 years, I'm okay with Bret leaving. His clock management at the end of the half and end of the game is miserable. His play calling is also very questionable at times when the game is close (see the end of the Michigan State-Wisconsin game this year).
Going to be interesting to see what kind of reception he receives from the other SEC coaches and schools. When Urban Meyer started at Ohio State, Bret complained that Meyer was bringing "controversial SEC tactics" to the Big Ten (stealing verbally committed recruits, over signing, etc, etc). Kind of surprised to see him make negative remarks about a conference and now he'll be coaching there.
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R Turbeville ●
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MeyersBuck
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R Turbeville ●
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ol'ref said...
We Buckeye fans feel your pain. We hate Bilema almost as much as Meeeshitgans Brady Hoakster. This guy,BrettBilelema, is a crybaby of the 1st degree.He immediately complained when Urban came in and flipped an Ohio guy back home. Said Urban was bringing SEC style recruiting to the BIG. Urban said next time all 9 coaches will be out doing the same thing even harder. Hipocrit Brett has poached and flipped Minnesota for years. BileLema will go get the biggest MFr's he can find and a good tough RB and try to cramit down yer throuts. Old school footbaw. Wont work against the better teams tho it is fun to watch sometimes. The big question we have had is why did 6 of his assistants leave him last year We will miss crybaby Bilema as it was looking like Urban was going to kickhis ass everytime in our division. We think BB was maybe running away from Urban and the Wisky AD Barry Alvarass. Any way good luck it could(nt) have been worse. Oh by the way ,have you got any soft verbals that are highly rated at safety or Linebacker?Urban is scouring the country side for these positions.
RandyRazorback
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This post was edited by R Turbeville on 12/4/2012 at 6:28 PM
R Turbeville ●
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