From The Desk of Your AD
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Greetings Fellow Razorbacks!
It doesn’t seem long ago, that I received a call from Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz asking me if I would come to the University of Arkansas and serve as Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics. An opportunity to work at one of our nation’s finest institutions and lead an intercollegiate athletics program in the SEC was not an offer that I had to think long about.
As a guide during the transition and as a road map for myself to interact across the University community and the entire state of Arkansas, I developed a formal plan for my first 100 days as your Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics. As those first 100 days have now passed (like a blur), I am pleased to report that most of the priorities outlined in this plan have been accomplished.
I had the pleasure to travel this state with Chancellor Steinmetz and Coach Morris to meet Arkansans in all corners of the state through a series of meet and greets. Later this spring, we will head out on a bus tour as we continue to reach out to the state. I have also had an opportunity to meet with many of our Razorback Foundation donors and loyal fans who support our program at a variety of events.
Closer to home, I have spent time with each of our head coaches and their staffs and have enjoyed getting to know many of our student-athletes, as well as members of our Department of Intercollegiate Athletics staff. I have met with members of the Chancellor’s Executive Staff, our University deans, our Faculty Athletics Committee, our Faculty Athletics Representative and many others in the campus community.
Throughout this process, I have been slow to talk and quick to listen. I want to learn from those who know this university, the state and what the Razorbacks are all about. It has been a great experience and a practice I will continue throughout my time as your Director of Athletics.
We have far more to do in the days, months and years to come, but I am more excited today about the future of Razorback Athletics than I was the day I took the job. That is because I have now seen, first hand, what words failed to adequately describe – the passion, the commitment, and the unity behind the University of Arkansas and the Razorbacks.
I am excited about the things to come!
Nationally-Ranked Razorbacks
Chances are if you have checked out the national rankings recently in any number of spring sports, you have seen Arkansas prominently listed. That is because our program currently has seven different sport programs ranked in the Top 25 of their respective sports, including four different teams ranked in the Top 10. From our No. 1 ranked women’s track & field team to the newest addition to the polls, our softball program, No. 16, Razorback student-athletes are making their mark nationally.
Ranked Razorbacks
HOGSPY Awards
I had the pleasure of attending my first HOGSPY Awards this week. For those of you who are not familiar, the HOGSPY Awards are an event planned and executed by our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as a celebration of the best in athletics, academics, leadership and service learning. More than 25 awards were presented in a ceremony at Bud Walton Arena. I want to congratulate all the finalists and award winners and extend my gratitude to ESPN’s Maria Taylor for serving as our emcee.
Spring Game and HogFest
A huge THANK YOU to all the Razorback fans that braved the elements recently at both our Red-White Spring Game at War Memorial in Little Rock and our HogFest events here on campus. One thing is clear – cold temperatures, snow and sleet is no match for the spirit of Razorback fans!
While Mother Nature didn’t provide ideal conditions, Coach Morris and I were so impressed by the turnout. This certainly won’t be the last time we give our loyal fans a chance to get close to our program. We are proud to represent our state and it is the passionate support of our fans that make the University of Arkansas a special place.
A Few Snout Outs
As we know, once a Razorback, Always a Razorback! So, it is only fitting that we recognize a few former Razorbacks on some recent accomplishments.
Congratulations to former men’s basketball Razorback legend Sidney Moncrief on his selection to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. “Super Sid” will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this November, joining previous basketball legends including former Razorback men’s basketball coach Nolan Richardson.
I also had the privilege to be in attendance to honor five former Razorbacks at the 2018 Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Banquet in Little Rock. Razorback football greats Shawn Andrews, Jerry Eckwood, Brison Manor and Kevin Scanlon joined longtime University of Arkansas athletic trainer and administrator Dean Weber in the 2018 inductee class. Congratulations to all the deserving inductees.
And finally, congratulations to former Razorback basketball star Darrell Walker on his hiring as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Darrell provided Razorback fans with many great memories on the court, but he inspired us all when he returned to the University of Arkansas to finish his degree 30 years after playing his final game for the Razorbacks. We wish him the best of luck with his new coaching opportunity.
There are so many exciting things yet to come in Razorback Athletics. Thank you for being an integral part of our current and future success. Until next time, keep Calling those Hogs!
Hunter
