Arkansas turns toward Chris Jans after being turned down by Chris Beard, Jerome Tang

Arkansas is turning into Louisville South, striking out on its top coaching candidates and pretending their third, seventh and twelfth options were ‘the guy’ they wanted all along. First it was Ole Miss’ Chris Beard coming in to replace the Muss Bus, who left for USC earlier this week. Then after he passed, it was Kansas State’s Jerome Tang, who also declined to return to Manhattan on the condition of a new-and-improved contract.

Now, it’s none other than Mississippi State’s Chris Jans reportedly interviewing for the job, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. That will be a virtual meeting with AD Hunter Yurachek, along with a separate interview with Little Rock’s Darrell Walker.

Jans has racked up a 42-27 overall record in Starkville with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, a phenomenal start after leaving New Mexico State following a five-year run at New Mexico State that included 122 wins, seven combined conference regular season and tournament titles and three March Madness bids. And that was after a 21-12 season at Bowling Green State to open his coaching career, bringing his complete record to 185-71.

Everywhere he’s gone, Jans has won. Now Arkansas is looking within the SEC (again) for its next leader.

And what about Walker? The former All-American guard for the Razorbacks in the 80s is now the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, leading the Trojans to a regular season title with a 21-13 record in ’23-24. It’s been a mostly down tenure in Little Rock with an 82-99 overall record and a .423 winning percentage or worse in four of six seasons, but he’s a local favorite with NBA playing and coaching experience.

Either way (or however this goes, considering there’s a new candidate being thrown out there and turning down the job by the minute at this point), they’ll be replacing the guy who led Arkansas to two Elite Eights in five years in Fayetteville.

Big shoes to fill, even with the 16-17 finish for the Razorbacks this past season.