Hunter Yurachek: 'There was only one person offered this job'

Hunter Yurachek considered several options for Arkansas’ next men’s basketball coach after the departure of Eric Musselman. John Calipari was the only one for the job, though, according to the Razorbacks’ athletic director who sealed the deal on him.

Yurachek explained his hiring process while sitting next to Calipari in his opening press conference from Fayetteville on Wednesday. He said that he likes to have in-depth consideration with several options on the table. That’s why, based on his figure, he spoke to around almost a double-digit number of names.

“Well, you guys have been with me through now two men’s basketball searches and one football search. I’m very thorough in that search process,” Yurachek said. “It’s a very tight, closed search process but I don’t just zero in on one person.”

“I didn’t know for sure if he was going to take the job. So I had to keep my search ongoing while he was taking in consideration the opportunity that was in front of him,” said Yurachek. “I talked to, I don’t know, eight to ten different coaches about this job.”

Several coaches were reportedly in the mix for the ‘Hogs as it went through the weekend. Ole Miss’ Chris Beard and Kansas State’s Jerome Tang were the major names early on. McNeese State’s Will Wade, Mississippi State’s Chris Jans, and Little Rock’s Darrell Walker all then had their names in connection to the job. That was before Calipari’s first appeared on Sunday before it surged and ended up being the selection.

However, to be crystal, Yurachek wanted it certain that just a single coach ever got an official offer from Arkansas. That’s also the same person who, as of yesterday, became the 14th head coach in program history.

“Here’s what I want to be clear about. In spite of the reports, there was only one person offered this job and he’s sitting right next to me,” Yurachek stated.

“I think it’s interesting that his name never got out during the process,” Yurachek said. “He wanted this job in the end. He wasn’t looking for something else at his institution that he was at.”

The Razorbacks welcomed the sport’s active winningest coach inside Bud Walton Arena last night. It comes after signing him from Kentucky after 15 seasons with a five-year contract at an average of $7 million. Now he will look to continue his career and add to his notable resumé, whether on the court, in recruiting, or come the NBA Draft.

Calipari’s name wasn’t one that anyone expected for Arkansas once their search got going a week ago. Still, it’s apparently the only one that got a deal on the table with him now becoming the head coach of the ‘Hogs.