News > December 6, 2007

By Connor Swarbrick | Staff writer

Several sources, including The Morning News, a local newspaper serving northwest Arkansas reported that Arkansas has hired Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe as the Razorbacks’ next football coach Dec. 5.

Sources close to the team said that players expressed shock and confusion after hearing the news from outside sources.

Many of the players were in communication with each other in order to try and sort out the issue at hand.

University sources, however, say that this is not a done deal.

Athletic Director Ron Wellman was unable to be reached for comment Wednesday night.

A public announcement could come as soon as Thursday morning, Dec. 6.

This announcement could affect the Deacons’ focus as they prepare for the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 29.

Grobe, 55, has spent the last seven years with the Deacons and has compiled a 45-39 record.

He led Wake Forest to the ACC championship in 2006 and a trip to the BCS Orange Bowl. Grobe was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year after leading the Deacons to their best season ever.

Grobe became the Hogs’ leading candidate to replace Houston Nutt after Clemson’s Tommy Bowden signed a contract extension to coach for the Tigers.

Following the Deacons’ ACC championship season, Grobe signed an extension through 2016 for what was believed to be about $1.1 million per year.

The board of the Razorback Foundation met briefly via conference call Dec. 5 and approved a salary supplement for Grobe. Sources report the Foundation would not have held the meeting if it was not a done deal.

A coach’s salary from state funds is limited so the Foundation must agree to guarantee any other money that is promised a coach. Former Razorback coach Houston Nutt received a state salary of $330,000, but his total package was about $1.5 million.

It is believed that Grobe will make approximately $2.2 million per year at Arkansas.

Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long zeroed in on Bowden and Grobe as his top two choices in the days after Nutt resigned and said that his intention has always been to sign the best coach possible.

Grobe served as head coach at Ohio for six seasons prior to rebuilding the Wake Forest football program.

Before that, Grobe served on Fisher DeBerry’s staff at Air Force as a defensive assistant for 11 seasons. He also spent five years as an assistant at Marshall.

Grobe is much more impressive than his 45-39 record.

He took a struggling program and put it on the map. He overcame academic and size disadvantages and built a program with a distinct identity.