Dan Enos opens up on emotions of return to Arkansas
Second chances are rare in college football. Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos isn’t taking his opportunity for granted.
Although this will be Enos’ first season at Arkansas under head coach Sam Pittman, it isn’t Enos’ first stint with the Razorbacks. From 2015-17, Enos served under head coach Bret Bielema as offensive coordinator.
While his time with the program was short, it was a glaring success. Enos’ 2015 and 2016 Razorback offenses still rank in the program’s top 10 for total yards and yards per game. The decision to return to Fayetteville was a no-brainer for the 55-year-old offensive coordinator.
“It was a really easy transition. It was a really easy yes too when Coach [Pittman] called me because of how fond I am of this area and my family lives in this area,” Enos said on Thursday. “It’s got wonderful fans, wonderful people, great support. It’s a very unique place. It’s unlike any other place I’ve ever been.
“I’ve always had an immense amount of respect for [Pittman]. When I was an assistant coach, he was a tremendous technician. He had tremendous relationships with his players. He was extremely hardworking in recruiting.”
Enos and Pittman spent one season together at Arkansas as assistants before Pittman left the program to become the Georgia offensive line coach. After spending three successful seasons with the Bulldogs, Pittman returned to Arkansas to inherit the head coach role.
“When I saw the news a few years ago that Arkansas hired Coach Pittman, it did not surprise me one bit,” Enos said. “He was a head coach because of his ability to teach and communicate and recruit and work and lead. Then, obviously, I knew how fond he was, of when he was here, of this place. So, I thought, ‘What a great hire’ immediately when I saw the news. And obviously, Coach does a great job and continues to build a great culture here.”
Enos hopes to contribute to that culture. However, it won’t be easy to outdo his predecessor. Enos will replace Kendal Briles, who led Arkansas to average over 30 points per game and rank within the top two in the SEC in rushing in the past two seasons.
Luckily for Enos, he’ll have no shortage of offensive weapons. Arkansas returns QB1 KJ Jefferson and standout running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, a duo who boosted the Razorbacks to average 471.4 yards per game last season (15th nationally).
On Sept. 2, Arkansas will kick off the 2023 campaign in a matchup against Western Carolina.