John Pelphrey Fired As Arkansas Head Coach

OSG Sources have confirmed that Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long informed John Pelphrey that he has been fired as head coach.

Should Arkansas receive and NIT bid assistant Rob Evans will be head coach.

This quote from Pelphrey was tweeted by Aaron Peters of Razorback Nation. "We loved every second of being here and that has not changed"

After leading the Razorbacks to the NCAA tournament his first year Arkansas has won only 46 games the last three years. More alarming is the drastic drop in attendance at Bud Walton Arena during Pelphrey's tenure.

The Razorback fan base had turned on Pelphrey to the point that they were not showing up to Bud Walton Arena anymore.

Pelphrey had put together an outstanding recuriting class for next season but with this news that class might be blown apart and every Division I head coach searching for their families phone number.

Arkansas is expected to go after Missouri head coach Mike Anderson, who was Nolan Richardson's top assistant during his 17 years as Razorback head coach. Marquette head coach Buzz Williams is also near the top of the list.

Boss Hog On Thin Ice? Pelphrey To Meet With His AD, UPDATE: He's Done...

KHBS/KHOG-TV in Fort Smith/Fayetteville, Arkansas is reporting that Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey will not return next season.

OSG sources close to the situation will not confirm nor deny.

OSG does know that Pelphrey and Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long will meet Sunday morning. OSG sources wouldn't comment if this was to inform Pelphrey he would be relieved of his head coaching duties.

After leading the Razorbacks to the NCAA tournament his first year Arkansas has won only 46 games the last three years. More alarming is the drastic drop in attendance at Bud Walton Arena during Pelphrey's tenure.

1345 UPDATE: Yep, he's done...

Arkansas finished fourth in the SEC West this season. Pelphrey has three years remaining on his contract and will be paid a negotiated buyout number.

Look for the chasing to begin with Mike Anderson at Mizzou and Buzz Williams at Marquette. Arkansas is willing to pay for a coach to play...

More when we know more...

Until then, 5News Mike Irwin gives his 67 seconds on what was happening before it happened...
((HT: KFSM-TV Fort Smith))
 

Kentucky Campaign '09: Pitino Says Go With The Native Sons

While it appears John Calipari is "interested" in the Kentucky job, UK hasn't asked for permission to talk to Coach Cal. Any doubt though that Calipari is openly campaigning for the Kentucky gig through the backchannels?

The interest though could be mutual as sources tell the 4-letter word that Kentucky is in the process of gathering information on Calipari.

Back to the campaign because former Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino is doing just that for a couple of his former players, Travis Ford and John Pelphrey.

"If you said to me right now, in three years, who will be one of the bright young stars in our game, I would say, without reservation at all, that John Pelphrey or Travis Ford would both be young stars in the game." Pitino said.

"On top of that, they are beloved by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and all their fans, what they call Big Blue Nation. I don't care where they're at, they love Oklahoma State, love Arkansas, but those two guys, you cut them open, and it spells UK. That's what I would do. "

There's no doubt Kentucky blue runs through the veins of Travis Ford and John Pelphrey. As native sons they could adjust to the demands of the gig quicker than someone from the outside. The question is are they seasoned enough to win games at the elite level.

Ford and Pelphrey do have their former coach on the stump on their behalf however, Pitino is the Louisville head coach now. How does that sit with the power brokers within the Big Blue Nation? Does Pitino's thoughts move the needle with them?

Let the dance continue.