NOT SO FAST! Chris Beard turns down Arkansas, Jerome Tang emerges as favorite

Kansas State coach Jerome Tang calls out plays in the first half of the quarterfinal round in the Big 12 Tournament inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo (Syndication: The Topeka Capital-Journal)

The coaching carousel is spinning out of control right now, particularly in the SEC. There were rumblings that Arkansas had not only found a replacement for Eric Musselman, who left Fayetteville this week for USC, but that Ole Miss’ Chris Beard was the next move before the Muss Bus left town. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when the introductory press conference would be scheduled, the 51-year-old already getting his cardinal and white suit tailored. Done deal.

Until it wasn’t, news breaking out of left field that Beard had turned down the Arkansas job — a pretty clear upgrade, might I add — to return to Ole Miss. After some of the national talking heads reported the change of heart, Beard himself confirmed he was back with the Rebels.

“HOTTY TODDY,” he wrote on social media. “Great times ahead in Oxford. We are just getting started.”

HOTTY TODDY
Great times ahead in Oxford. We are just getting started. #WinInTheSip #Culture pic.twitter.com/u8rRwmfkSC
— Chris Beard (@CoachBeard) April 5, 2024

Beard led Ole Miss to a 20-12 finish in his first year in Oxford and now boasts a 191-85 overall record following stops at Little Rock (30-5), Texas Tech (112-55) and Texas (29-13). He reportedly seriously considered the move to Fayetteville, only to turn down that opportunity in favor of at least one more season with the Rebels before searching for bigger and better things.

So where does Arkansas turn after getting left at the altar? How about a recent coaching rival for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats?

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Kansas State’s Jerome Tang has emerged as the new favorite to take the job, “at the top of Arkansas’ list to replace Eric Musselman, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.

Source: Kansas State's Jerome Tang is now expected to be at the top of Arkansas' list to replace Eric Musselman. https://t.co/kEiKkkeJeC
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 5, 2024

Jeff Goodman and Matt Norlander are also reporting that Tang is the leading candidate for the Razorbacks.

The second-year head coach has racked up a 45-25 overall record, highlighted by an Elite Eight run in 2022-23 that included a second-round victory over Kentucky and a No. 15 finish in the AP Poll. Year two resulted in a 19-15 finish with a first-round NIT loss to Iowa.

Tang has been rumored for several openings this offseason, namely the Louisville job that was ultimately filled by Pat Kelsey. Instead, the 57-year-old and longtime assistant under Scott Drew at Baylor could be heading to the SEC.

Until the next change of heart or leverage spin for a new contract.