Arkansas hires SMU’s Morris as head coach

The Arkansas Razorbacks hired SMU’s Chad Morris to become their next head coach, the school announced Wednesday.
Morris will be paid $3.5 million per year after agreeing to a six-year, $21 million contract.
Arkansas hired Houston’s Hunter Yurachek as its athletic director on Monday and he made the announcement of the new head coach two days later.
“The future is tremendously bright at the University of Arkansas with the addition of Chad Morris,” Yurachek said in a statement. “I am confident that Chad will bring an exciting brand of football, phenomenal student-athletes and championships to Fayetteville, and do it all with high integrity.”




The 49-year-old Morris will formally be introduced on Thursday.
Morris had a 14-22 record in three seasons rebuilding the program at SMU. The Mustangs went 2-10 in his first season in 2015, 5-7 in 2016 and 7-5 this season.
The Razorbacks fired Bret Bielema last month after the team finished 4-8 in his fifth season.
Morris played a key role in helping Clemson become a national power when he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2011 to 2014.
Other candidates for the Arkansas job included Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and Memphis coach Mike Norvell, who agreed to a contract extension Tuesday to remain at the school.
The Mustangs will play Louisiana Tech in the DXL Frisco Bowl on Dec. 20.