Sam Pittman: 'I don't think I'm getting fired'

On Saturday, Sam Pittman set the record straight. After Arkansas’ 44-20 win over FIU, the Razorbacks’ head coach addressed rumors surrounding his potential firing.

“I don’t think I’m getting fired or [athletic director Hunter Yurachek] would have told me I’m getting fired,” Pittman said. “I’m not for sure why I have to answer these questions about getting fired or not. I don’t. We’ll kill recruiting if we keep talking about it. If you’re an Arkansas fan, it’s going to hurt us. Opinions, media has become opinions. I wish we’d post the facts and whatever the facts are, we can deal with it.”

The facts are Arkansas is 4-7, will not play in a bowl game for the first time since 2020 and has massively underperformed this season. Pittman wouldn’t be the first to go. After Arkansas’ 7-3 loss to Mississippi State in Week 8, the program fired first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos.

Pittman is in his fourth season with Arkansas. In his debut campaign, the Razorbacks struggled, finishing with a 3-9 record. Nonetheless, Pittman showed promise in his second season at the helm, leading Arkansas to a 9-4 record. It was the program’s first nine-win season since 2011.

Since then, Arkansas hasn’t been able to reach the same heights. Last season, the team posted a 7-6 record and 3-5 mark in conference play. This season has been even worse. It wouldn’t be an easy decision to part ways with Pittman.

According to USA TODAY, the 61-year-old head coach will be owed no less than $16.1 million if the university fires him without cause. Nonetheless, reports claim Yurachek assured Pittman he will not be fired this season.

Sam Pittman claims rumors hurt the program

Pittman simply wants the rumors to come to a halt for the sake of the future of the program.

“When we start talking about firing all this, it kills us in recruiting. It does,” Pittman said. “Especially when we fabricate stories. It kills us in recruiting. When we give opinions about who is coming in and all those type things, it kills us. I got a wife and she’s a human being. We’re going to put out stuff that’s not true? I know it’s an opinion world.”

Arkansas currently boasts the No. 22 recruiting class in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings. The class boasts six four-star prospects and 12 three-star recruits. With a win over FIU, Pittman has extended his employment another day.

Arkansas will look to build on its momentum this weekend. On Saturday, the Razorbacks will square off against No. 11 Missouri at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on CBS.