Hal McAfee -- Football

Hal lettered at linebacker for the Razorbacks from 1973-75 and was named Academic All-SWC in 1975. He won the Red Hickey Razorback Spirit Award in 1975 and was named the Defensive MVP of the 1976 Cotton Bowl. Hal would eventually be named to the Cotton Bowl Hall of Heroes for the 1970's and the Houston Chronicle All-Time Cotton Bowl team.
From 1979-81 Hal was a defensive graduate assistant at Arkansas. He would then head to the high school ranks, becoming the defensive coordinator at Marlin (TX) high school (1981-82). His next stop would be as defensive line graduate assistant at Henderson State University (1982-83). Hal's first head coaching position was at Camden Harmony Grove (1983-86) in Arkansas.
In 1986 Hal became the defensive coordinator at Tarleton State University in Texas. His two years as defensive coordinator saw TSU win two TIAA Championships and make it to the NAIA II National Quarterfinals in 1987.
Hal became the head coach at Tarleton State in the spring of 1988 and spent the next five years there. TSU won two TIAA Championships (1989 & 1990) and made it to the NAIA II National Quarterfinals twice (1989 & 1990) in those five years. The 1990 season was the first ever undefeated regular season in school history.
From 1996-98 Hal was the offensive coordinator at Fort Lewis College in Colorado.

Bill Michael -- Football

(as of football season 2001) A 36-year coaching veteran, Bill Michael enters his eighth season with the University of North Texas football program. After serving as the defensive coordinator in 1994, he was named assistant head coach prior to the 1995 season and briefly served as interim head coach in 1998. This fall Coach Michael enters his second season coaching the tight ends and offensive line.
The move was made because of Michael's expertise in option football and his ability to improve that part of UNT's offense. It's something he knows very well. Coach Michael served on the University of Oklahoma staff under Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer when OU's wishbone offense was one of the dominate forces in college football. The move to the "Bone" was made in 1970 as Fairbanks and Michael utilized the talents of Greg Pruitt. During Michael's last three and a half seasons at OU with the wishbone, the Sooners posted a combined record of 43-6-1 and won a pair of Sugar Bowl Championships and posted an undefeated season (1973, 10-0-1).
Michael has participated in several bowl games, including the two Sugar Bowl wins as well as an Orange Bowl victory over Tennessee in 1967. He began his college coaching career in 1964 as the defensive coordinator at UTEP. In 1967, he moved to the University of Oklahoma and served as the offensive line coach until 1973. Michael coached six All-Americans and was a member of two Sugar Bowl championship teams during his stint with the Sooners. Michael served as head coach at UTEP from 1978-82. In 1983, he moved to South Carolina as the linebackers coach and after a two-year stint with the Gamecocks, Michael left to join the Texas staff as the linebackers coach (1986).
A 1959 graduate of Arkansas, he was a three-year varsity letterwinner (1956-58) and was captain of the 1958 team. The 1958 squad was the first coached by the legendary Frank Broyles. He was also teammates with former OU and Dallas Cowboys' head coach Barry Switzer. Yearly records.

Ralph Micheli -- Head Football Coach, Minnesota St. University Moorhead Dragons

(as of football season 2004) Dean of both the Minnesota State University Moorhead coaching staff and the NSIC head coaching fraternity, RALPH MICHELI begins his 12th season as head coach at MSU Moorhead and his 22nd season as a head collegiate coach in 2004. . . Appointed head coach at MSU Moorhead on April 5, 1993 as a replacement for retiring Ross Fortier.

BORN: January 20, 1948
HIGH SCHOOL: Bishop Noll Institute, Hammond, IN, 1966
COLLEGE: Macalester College, 1966-70, BS degree; Indiana University (NW), 1977, MS degree; University of Arkansas, 1974-76, Ed.D degree
COACHING: Bishop Noll Institute, Hammond, IN, assistant, 1970; Michigan City High School, Michigan City, IN, assistant, 1971; Lincoln High School, Cambridge City, IN, head coach, 1972-73; University of Arkansas, graduate assistant, 1974-75; Sul Ross State University, assistant coach, 1976-77; Tarkio (MO) College, head coach, 1978-80; Loras (IA) College, assistant coach, 1981-85; Sul Ross State, head coach, 1985-91; MSU Moorhead, assistant coach, 1992; MSU Moorhead, head coach, 1993-P. Yearly coaching records.

David Mitchell -- Running Backs Coach, Purdue Boilermakers
 
(as of football season 2005) David Mitchell is in his third season ('05) as running backs coach. He was named to the position March 3, 2003. Mitchell came to the Boilermakers from Lincoln University of Missouri, an NCAA Division II school, where he served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator during the 2002 season. He was the Blue Tigers' running backs coach and strength coach in 2001.
Previously, Mitchell was offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at North Texas (2000), running backs coach at Missouri (1997-99), running backs coach at Arkansas (1994-96) and running backs coach at Syracuse (1991-93). He began his career at his alma mater, Arkansas State, working from 1974 to 1990 as a graduate assistant, junior varsity head coach, running backs coach and wide receivers coach. Mitchell played running back at Arkansas State and was a member of the Indians' 1970 NCAA College Division championship team. He led the Southland Conference in rushing as a senior with 968 yards and earned all-conference honors. Mitchell concluded his playing days as Arkansas State's fourth-leading all-time rusher with 1,427 yards on 247 carries (5.8 average) and nine touchdowns.
A native of North Little Rock, Ark., Mitchell (born Sept. 18, 1951) earned a B.S. degree in education, physical education in 1974 and an M.S. degree in education, physical education in 1975, both from Arkansas State. He and his wife, Darlister, have two children, Denise and David Jr.

Jack Mitchell -- Football

Mitchell played junior high and high school football at Arkansas City, Kansas, where he was an all-state quarterback. He then attended Texas University for part of his freshman year. He withdrew and went back to Arkansas City Junior College briefly before going into the armed forces during World War II. He then moved to the University of Oklahoma, where he returned seven punts for a touchdown from 1946-48.
After his graduation from Oklahoma, where he was an All-American quarterback, Mitchell went to Blackwell, Okla., High School for one year as head coach. The following year he was an assistant coach at Tulsa University and then the next two years (1951-52) he was an assistant coach at Texas Tech in Lubbock.
He was head coach at the University of Wichita (13-5-1) in 1953 and 1954 and led the Shockers to a Missouri Valley title the second season, after a rebuilding campaign. Then he went to Arkansas in 1955 as head coach. Arkansas was 17-12-1 under Mitchell from 1955-57. In 1957 he moved to the University of Kansas where he posted a 44-45-2 record between 1958 and 1966.
University of Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame and Kansas Sports Hall of Fame ('06). Yearly records.

Verl Mitchell -- Offensive Line Coach, Arkansas Rhinos (North American Football League)

(as of football season 2004) Played offensive tackle at the U of A from 1991 until 1995.

Melody O'Reilly -- Track & Field

(as of 2001-02 school year) A five-time NCAA Division I All-American and Olympic Trials qualifier from the University of Arkansas.

Angela Orefice -- Assistant Track & Field Coach, Stony Brook University

(as of track & field season 2003-04) Angela Orefice's first season as assistant coach of the Stony Brook cross country/track and field team was 2002-03.
Orefice previously served as the Assistant Professor of Physical Education at Suffolk Community College for two years. Responsible for teaching several courses, she also served as a volunteer coach for the cross country team. Orefice also served as a volunteer coach at the University of Arkansas and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. At Arkansas, she assumed coaching and recruiting responsibilities for the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field programs, and at Cal Poly she served as a coach for the cross country team.
A three-time Division II All-American for Cal Poly, Orefice placed as high as fourth at the NCAA Division II Championships. As a senior in 1998, she received the Dr. Nell Jackson Memorial Graduate Assistant Scholarship, an award given by the U.S. Women's Track Coaches Association to honor a graduate student who demonstrates the ability to become a future collegiate coach.
Orefice earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and kinesiology from Cal Poly in June 1997. In August 1998, she obtained a master's degree in health science from the University of Arkansas.

Louise Ostling -- Assistant Tennis Coach, University of Texas - El Paso

(as of tennis season 2002-03) Louise Ostling is in her second season (2002) with the Miners, serving as an assistant coach.
A strong collegiate player in her own right at the University of Arkansas, Ostling brings a plethora of intangibles to the UTEP. Her efforts in the coaching ranks have helped UTEP earn its first No. 9 ranking in the ITA Southwest Region after the team's performance this past fall.
She is in charge of the UTEP tennis team's community relations efforts and oversees the program's Baseline Club, in addition to her day-to-day coaching duties.
Ostling graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1999. She played every position possible in both singles and doubles, with the exception of No. 1 singles.
Arkansas strung together four straight NCAA Championship appearances during her four years as a Lady Razorback. During one point in her career, Ostling helped Arkansas reach as high as No. 14 in the nation.
Individually, Ostling's highest personal ranking was No. 72.
During her career at Arkansas, she compiled an overall 103-55 singles record, which gives her sole possession of fourth place in the Arkansas record book for career singles wins. Her most memorable wins as a Lady Razorback came when she upended the No. 16 and the No. 43 players in the nation.
Her highest doubles ranking came when Ostling teamed up with Brandy Brown to reach No. 41 nationally in the NCAA.
She closed out her career with a 68-43 doubles record. While teaming up with Adriana Garcia for most of her career, Ostling placed fourth all-time in career doubles wins at Arkansas.
She was named Most Inspirational, Most-Improved, and Most Valuable Player during her career and in 1999 received the Cissy Leary Award for Sportsmanship in the ITA Southwest Region.
Ostling graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in German, earned a 3.86 GPA, and Phi Beta Kappa honors.
She was named Scholar-Athlete All-American two years in a row, and is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. Ostling was on the Academic All-Southeastern Conference honor roll for four straight seasons while playing for Arkansas.
As an undergraduate Ostling wrote for the student newspaper and interned in the Sports Information Office. Ostling is in the midst of pursuing a graduate degree in creative writing at UTEP.
Ostling was born June 15, 1976 in Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Bill Pace -- Football

Assistant at Kansas from 1954-61.
Was an assistant coach (offensive backs) at Arkansas from 1962 through 1966.
Coached Vanderbilt from 1967-72 leading them to a 22-38-3 record. Yearly records.

Wayne Perryman -- Athletic Trainer, Arkansas RimRockers (ABA)

(as of 2004-05 season) Wayne joined the RimRockers after a short stint as an athletic trainer for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. While working for the Lions, Perryman also completed work on a Master's Degree in Biomechanics.
He spent the previous two years as an intern athletic trainer for the University of Arkansas baseball team. Prior to that, he spent two years as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the Razorback football program.
A native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Perryman served as a student trainer at Oklahoma State University, working primarily with the football and wrestling teams. He earned his undergraduate degree in Health Education with a minor in Athletic Training and History from the University of Central Oklahoma.
A member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Arkansas Athletic Trainers Associations, Perryman's duties include the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries suffered by members of the Arkansas RimRockers' Basketball team.

Tim Peters -- Assistant Baseball Coach - Pitching / Recruiting Coordinator, Collin County Community College

(as of baseball season 2003) Tim is now in his 6th season (2002) as an assistant in the Express program, where he functions mainly as pitching coach and recruiting co-ordinator. Peters' resume is impressive and includes a stint at the College of Southern Idaho during it's 1984 JUCO national title season, as well as 2 years (1986 & '87) of mound-service at the University of Arkansas.  While a Razorback, Tim enjoyed visits to the NCAA College World Series in Omaha. He then went on to pitch 4 seasons of minor league ball for 3 different organizations, including trips to "big league" spring training camp. He has held assistant coaching positions at  Texarkana College and the University of  Houston prior to coaching at Collin. Tim holds a bachelor's degree and masters degree from U. of Arkansas.

Kevin Pitts -- Director of Football Operations, Tulsa Golden Hurricane

(as of football season 2004) Kevin Pitts enters his fourth year ('04) as Director of Football Operations for the Golden Hurricane football program. His responsibilities include team travel, summer camp organization, scheduling, and daily team and office procedures. He also serves as staff liaison with other university departments.
Pitts came to Tulsa from the University of Arkansas where he spent nine years as an assistant athletic trainer. In addition to his responsibilities in sports medicine, Pitts assisted with team travel preparations for the Razorback football team. Before that, Pitts was a student athletic trainer at Arkansas and worked as an athletic trainer for the Nolan Richardson Summer Basketball Camps.
Pitts earned his bachelor's degree in education in 1992 and received his master's degree in health sciences in 1996, both from the University of Arkansas.

Kevin Platt -- Tennis

Platt became the Lady Razorbacks' head tennis coach in 1992, and coached Arkansas to six post-season appearances. His overall record for 12 seasons with the Lady'Backs was 124-155. He resigned on August 7, 2003.
Platt's best season was 1998 as he led the Lady'Backs past the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament into the NCAA Championship. That year, Arkansas was 22-9 overall, and 10-5 in SEC play to tie for fifth in the conference. The Lady'Backs achieved their highest team ranking that year, finishing the season at 16th.
Among his career achievements at Arkansas, Platt had the distinction of being the first women's tennis coach to take the Lady Razorbacks into the NCAA postseason. His first bid came in 1996, the first of six consecutive trips. Platt was also active in the national collegiate tennis community, serving on ITA honors committees and on the NCAA selection committee.

Maurice Pollard -- Football

(as of football season 2001) A former player for University of Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt at Murray (Ky.) State, Maurice Pollard joins the UAM staff as a football assistant coach. Pollard's main duties will consist of coaching the Boll Weevil linebacking corps and game film exchange. The Monroe, LA, native comes to Monticello after spending 2000 as a grad assistant with Nutt and the Razorbacks. At the UofA, Pollard was in charge of working with the Razorbacks' defensive line. Prior to joining the staff at Fayetteville he served as the disciplinarian counselor, physical education instructor and football coach at Martin Luther King Middle School in Monroe. Pollard played tight end, fullback, linebacker and defensive tackle at Murray State during his four-year career. He earned his undergraduate degree in physical education in 1998.

Dean Pryor - Football & Track

Pryor lettered in football at Arkansas as a halfback and safety from 1950-52 and in track from 1951-53.
Assistant coach at Wichita State, then went to Hastings College (Neb.) as head coach. Also coached at Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College, Kansas State twice and South Dakota State. Athletic Director at Arkansas State from 1975-80.

Bo Rein -- Football

Rein started his college career playing for and then coaching under Woody Hayes at Ohio State University. Rein became a regular member of the Ohio State coaching staff in 1969 before becoming an offensive backfield coach at William and Mary under Lou Holtz in 1970.
In 1971, he joined the staff of Purdue University and then went to North Carolina State when Holtz became head coach there.
In 1975, Rein went to Arkansas as the offensive coordinator. At the end of the season, North Carolina State offered Rein the head coaching job. He kept it for four years and went 27-18-1. During his time there, he took the Wolfpack to win the Peach Bowl in 1977, the Tangerine Bowl in 1978 and his team won the 1979 Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
Rein was hired as the then youngest ever head coach at LSU. He would never coach a game there.
Rein's Cessna Conquest plane left Shreveport, La., on Jan. 10, 1980 for what was to have been a short hop to Baton Rouge. But en route, controllers lost contact with the pilot. The plane climbed to 41,000 feet, heading on a straight-line course to the Virginia coast. Military jets intercepted the Cessna, but pilots could see no signs of life within the cabin "only the glow of the instrument panel's indicator lights". Three and a half hours after the flight began, the plane fell out of the sky and crashed into the Atlantic. No debris or remains were recovered. Although the National Transportation Safety Board could not determine the cause of the crash, observers speculated that sudden loss of cabin pressure played a key role.
The Niles (OH) McKinley High School Red Dragons play in Bo Rein Memorial Stadium. Yearly records.

Nolan "Notes" Richardson III -- Basketball

(as of basketball season 2002-03) Lead Tennessee State to a 10-19 in 2000-01, his first year as a head coach. Was 23-45 in his time at Tennessee State. The son of former Arkansas Head Coach Nolan Richardson and former assistant coach at Arkansas. Yearly coaching records.

Mike Ritchie -- Director of Football Operations, East Carolina University Pirates

(as of football season 2003) Ritchie, a graduate of Arkansas Tech, brings a strong coaching and academic background to his administrative post with the Pirates. He has served the past four years as the Razorbacks' academic counselor for football, acting as a liaison between student-athletes and faculty members as well as assisting with on-campus recruiting visits. He spent the first part of his career in collegiate athletics as a basketball coach as he served one season as head men's basketball coach at Arkansas-Monticello, two seasons as head women's basketball coach at Hendrix College, and two seasons as head women's coach at Christian Brothers University. He has also had assistant coaching stints in women's basketball at Arkansas Tech, Arkansas State, and Arkansas-Monticello. Yearly men's bask. coaching records. Yearly women's bask. coaching records.

Wayne Robbins -- Former Head Baseball Coach 1966-1969

Robbins was the head baseball coach for the Razorbacks from 1966-1969, a position that he resigned after completing his doctorate in the UA Graduate School. He was also Associate to the Dean of Arts & Sciences while at UA. On January 1, 1970, he joined the staff of Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) as Press Secretary. After three years with Thurmond he served on the staffs of Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt (R-Ark) and Senator Bill Brock (R-TN). In 1974 he became Director of Federal Programs for the Tennessee Department of Education in Nashville. Then followed one year as Dean of Students at Chattanooga State Technical College before assuming the Vice-Presidency of Belmont University in Nashville in 1976. In 1984 he became President of the Cockroft Foundation which he founded and established in Nashville. He retired from that position in December, 1999.
During parts of these years Robbins was a baseball scout for the New York Yankees and the California Angels. Yearly coaching records.

Sean Rochelle -- Defense Coordinator, Azusa Pacific University Cougars

(as of football season 2004) Sean Rochelle, a former assistant coach at the University of Houston, University of Arkansas and Clemson University, is now in his third season ('04) as the defensive coordinator at Azusa Pacific.
The former director of football operations at Houston, Rochelle returned to college football in 2001 after serving a year as an educational consultant for New Urban Alliance based in Indianapolis, Ind.
Rochelle fashions an impressive blend of coaching and academics. Prior to his season at Houston, he served 5 years as the coordinator of Student Athlete Support Services at Arkansas. He has a doctorate in adult education and a master's degree in higher education administration, both earned at Arkansas.
Rochelle played quarterback at NAIA-member University of Arkansas-Monticello, from which he graduated in 1989, summa cum laude. He was a two-time Academic All-American, twice an all-conference selection and garnered Conference Player of the Year honors his senior season.
Like Shinnick, Rochelle began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach on Ken Hatfield's staffs at both Arkansas and Clemson, beginning at Arkansas in 1989 and following Hatfield to Clemson the next season.
He returned to his alma mater in 1991 and served 3 seasons as Arkansas-Monticello's defensive coordinator. The Boll Weavers advanced to the 1993 NAIA semi-finals of the playoffs and earned a spot in the Aztec Bowl.
Along with his duties on the field, Rochelle coordinates the Cougars' recruiting efforts and teaches within the university's physical education department.

Bobby Roper -- Football

An All-Southwest Conference defensive player at Arkansas in 1964 & 1965.
Bobby began his career as a graduate assistant at Alabama under Paul "Bear" Bryant, then coached at Wichita State, The Citadel, Virginia, Iowa State (at least 1972), Pittsburgh (1973-?), Tennessee (defensive coordinator from 1977-79), Oregon State (early '80s), and Texas A&M (early '80s). He retired from the coaching profession after the 1984 season.

Tom Rossley -- Offensive Coordinator, Green Bay Packers

(as of football season 2005) Originally named to his post January 26, 2000, the 55-year-old Rossley has had a long association with success during his coaching career, a dossier that includes six seasons as a head coach at the major college level and five seasons as an offensive coordinator.
Prior to joining the Packers, Rossley served on the staff of the Kansas City Chiefs as quarterbacks coach in 1999. Under his direction, Elvis Grbac finished with the AFC's fifth-best passer rating (81.7) and the conference's second-best, third-down rating (89.3), the latter a key component of the Chiefs' successful 39.5 percent third-down conversion mark, the NFL's sixth best.
The Painesville, Ohio, native earlier had made his first foray into the NFL in 1990 as the quarterbacks coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
In 1991, Rossley moved on to become head coach at Southern Methodist University, where he had served earlier as an assistant coach. His daunting assignment was to rebuild a program which recently had been shut down by the NCAA's death penalty. After an initial 1-10 season, the Mustangs posted a 5-6 record in 1992, the school's largest one-season turnaround since 1968, earning Rossley Southwestern Conference 'Co-Coach of the Year' honors in the process.
Later, between his second stint at SMU and his time in Kansas City, Rossley enjoyed a two-year stretch with the Chicago Bears (1997-98), beginning his first season as a talent evaluator in the team's personnel department before finishing the season as wide receivers coach. In 1998, Rossley oversaw the Bears' tight ends.
Also serving in the college ranks as an offensive coordinator, Rossley first worked in that capacity during two seasons at Holy Cross (1986-87) on the same staff with his current boss, Mike Sherman. Under Rossley's guidance, the Crusaders went a combined 21-1, including an 11-0, Division I-AA national championship season in 1987 that saw the team lead the nation in both points (46) and yards (522) per game.
Rossley then held the same position for two seasons at SMU (1988-89), his first stint at the university. Serving under Forrest Gregg, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle for the Packers who later would coach the same NFL team for four seasons, Rossley directed the Mustangs to the nation's ninth-ranked passing attack in 1989.
Entering the college coaching ranks on a full-time basis in 1976 as an offensive assistant at Rice University, Rossley had the opportunity to work with future NFL quarterback Tommy Kramer, who later would enjoy a 14-year pro career with Minnesota (1977-89) and New Orleans (1990). After a one-year stint as wide receivers coach at his alma mater, Cincinnati, in 1977, Rossley returned to Rice for a second tour of duty (1978-81), this time as the school's passing game coordinator.
Rossley's first professional coaching job would follow in 1982, when he served as running backs/wide receivers coach for the Canadian Football League's Montreal Concorde. After three seasons in Montreal, he moved south to become offensive coordinator for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League in 1985. He later served a season (1987) on the offensive staff of the Arena League's Denver Dynamite. A standout player as a collegian at the University of Cincinnati, Rossley was a two-year letter winner (1967-68) at wide receiver after beginning his career as a quarterback. He garnered All-America honors in 1968 after ranking second in the nation with a school-record 80 receptions, also setting the Bearcats' single-game records for receptions (13) and receiving yards (254) in the process.
Rossley began his coaching career in the fall of 1969 at Chardon (Ohio) High School. He later coached two years at Eastlake (Ohio) North High School (1970-71) and three seasons at Lake Worth (Fla.) High School (1973-75). A one-year stint as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas came in 1972, a season that saw him work with future 17-year NFL quarterback Joe Ferguson. Yearly coaching records.

Kenny Roth -- Assistant Athletic Director (Marketing & Promotions), Murray State University Racers

(as of school year 2004-05) Roth, a former men's basketball assistant for the Racers, is beginning his second year (2001-02) as the director of the RACER Foundation.
He has spent the last five years in a managerial role at Continue Care of Murray. Prior to entering the home health care industry, Roth served an assistant coach under Scott Edgar at MSU from 1991-95.
Prior to his coaching stint at Murray State, Roth was an assistant coach at Georgia State, where he helped lead GSU to the NCAA Tournament in 1991. In addition to coaching at Murray State and Georgia State, Roth also coached at Armstrong State College and North Greenville (S.C.) College.
He began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Arkansas. A 1985 Arkansas graduate, Roth coached under both Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson.
Born March 23, 1962 in Little Rock, Ark., he graduated from Harrison High School in 1980. His father, Jim Roth, was a three-year letterman in football at the University of Arkansas, starting at tackle as a senior on the Razorbacks' 1954 Southwest Conference championship team.

John Sadie -- Head Men's Golf Coach, University of North Florida Ospreys

(as of golf season 2005-06) Hired at UNF on July 7, 2003.
Sadie, a former member of the Arkansas golf team, had been the Razorbacks assistant coach the previous two seasons (2001-03). He helped lead Arkansas to a top 25 finish in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and a berth in the NCAA Golf Championship in '03.
Sadie also had an opportunity to coach Andrew Dahl, who was ranked as high as 11th in the nation this past season.
Sadie returns to the head coaching ranks, having previously been the head golf coach at Central Alabama Community College (1998-2001) and Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala. (1990-1998).
He helped lead Huntingdon to two NAIA national championships in 1992 and 1994, squeezing those around UNF's two national titles in 1991 and 1993. While at Huntingdon he coached 18 All-Americans and had a winning percentage of .968.
Sadie's success continued at Central Alabama Community College, where his team won national titles in 1999 and 2000 and was the national runner up in 2001. Sadie was named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year following both of his national championship seasons.
On the golf course, Sadie won more than 60 Alabama junior tournaments from 1975-1984. While at Arkansas, where he played with John Daly, he was a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection and helped lead his team to its highest ever finish ­ sixth ­ in the 1985 and 1987 NCAA Championships.
Sadie finished his degree in communications at Auburn University. To go along with his coaching duties, he has also been a professional golfer and instructor since 1990. His highest finish ever in a professional event was second at the 1999 Alabama Open.

Howard Sampson -- Football

Sampson earned All-State and some All-American Team honors as a defensive back at Baytown Sterling High School and opted to attend Arkansas under Frank Broyles.
Sampson started for the Razorbacks for most of his four years (1974-77) and was named to the All-Southwest Team.
Green Bay signed Sampson as a free agent in 1978. He served as a fifth defensive back for two full seasons.
He left for seven years to work as an assistant coach at East Carolina and later as defensive coordinator for Western Arizona.

Francis Schmidt (Alma Mater: Nebraska) -- Baseball / Basketball / Football

As head coach at the University of Arkansas, Francis Schmidt not only was present at the birth of Razorback basketball but created a program that became dominant in SWC basketball and the conference's first squad able to compete with schools from around the nation. Schmidt agreed to terms with TCU to become football and basketball coach on February 8, 1929.
A native of Nebraska, Schmidt played football at the University of Nebraska before earning a law degree. He began his coaching career at Arkansas City (Kansas) High School where he enjoyed tremendous success before taking a coaching job at Kendall College in Tulsa, Okla. (now the University of Tulsa). Schmidt enjoyed even greater success at the Tulsa school, where both his football and basketball teams produced wildly high-scoring marks for the time. Coaching at Kendall from 1915-22, Schmidt garnered a 73-26 record in basketball.
At the end of the 1922 season, the University of Arkansas hired Schmidt to take over its football program and create a basketball program. Schmidt turned around Arkansas' football fortunes and quickly developed the Hogs into a basketball power. Schmidt was the winningest coach in football and basketball at both Kendall and Arkansas before accepting the same dual roles at TCU.
Schmidt made an immediate impact at TCU, leading the Horned Frogs to their first SWC football championship and inspiring local civic leaders to raise funds to build a new football stadium, what is now Amon Carter Stadium. He had a similar impact in basketball, although not an immediate one. His first season was his worst at TCU, a 7-10 season with a 4-8 conference mark. After that, Schmidt won 65 of his next 79 games on the TCU hardwood. Schmidt's Frogs won the SWC crown in just his second year and became the dominant team in the region for the remainder of his time in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs finished just a game off the conference title in both 1932 and 1933 before regaining the SWC throne in 1934.
Schmidt left TCU shortly after winning the 1934 conference championship, taking over as head football coach at Ohio State. He coached seven seasons at OSU and compiled a record of 39-16-1, winning two Big Ten titles.

Yearly college baseball coaching records.

-College Basketball: Yearly coaching records.

-College Football: Yearly coaching records.

See the U of A Coaching Records

Francis Sealy -- Assistant Track & Field Coach, Marshall University Thundering Herd

(as of track & field season 2004-05) Francis Sealy is beginning her first year (2001-02) as a Graduate Assistant for the Track & Field Teams at Marshall. Sealy is a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and a graduate of Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute.
Sealy was the 1993 and 1994 Canadian Junior Champion in the Heptathlon and the 1994 Canadian Junior Champion in the 100H. She was a member of the Canadian Pan Am Junior and World Junior Championships Teams. She began her collegiate career at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and as a freshman was the Big West Conference Champion in the Triple Jump and finished second in the Long Jump and was an NCAA qualifier in the 4x400m relay. She broke freshman school records in the Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Heptathlon. Following her freshman year she transferred to the University of Arkansas where she was a finalist in the Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Heptathlon at the Southeastern Conference Championships.
Sealy earned a Bachelors in Kinesiology from the University of Arkansas in 2001. She is pursuing a Masters in Physical Education.

Scott Shankles -- Head Women's Tennis Coach, Sam Houston State University Bearkats

(as of tennis season 2005-06) Scott Shankles brings an extensive tennis background to Sam Houston State as women's tennis coach. A three-year letterman at the University of Arkansas, Shankles played number four singles and number one doubles for the Razorbacks. He achieved a high NCAA Division I ranking of number 17 in doubles and was an NCAA National Doubles Championship participant. He joins the Bearkat coaching staff (2002-03) after serving one season as assistant men's and women's coach at Lamar and two years as head men's and women's tennis coach at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (NCAA Division II). At Colorado Springs, Shankles was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference "Coach of the Year," winning one conference championship (women, 1999) and leading his men's team to an NCAA regional appearance (2000). His men's team was ranked regionally twice. As a junior player, Shankles ranked number one in USTA Boys 18 doubles, was a National Hardcourts Boys 18 finalists, and received invitations to both the Orange Bowl and Easter Bowl tournaments. He achieved USTA Texas SuperChamps rankings of number three in singles and number one in doubles and was ranked 36 in USTA Boys 18 national singles. Shankles has achieved rankings one number one in Texas Men's 25 singles and number one in Texas Men's Open doubles.

Jackie Sherrill -- Head Coach, Mississippi State Bulldogs

(as of football season 2003) Upon earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration at Alabama in 1966, Sherrill launched an assistant coaching career that included stints on not only Bryant's staff, but those of respected coaches Frank Broyles and Johnny Majors. He served first on Bryant's staff as a graduate assistant coach at Alabama (1966), and held a similar position on Broyles' staff at Arkansas (1967). His first full-time coaching appointment came a year later in 1968 at Iowa State where he served as an assistant under Majors. From 1970-72, he was ISU's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He continued his association with Majors at Pittsburgh, where he served as assistant head coach for the Panthers from 1973-75. During the 1970s and '80s, Sherrill posted a 105-45-2 record, guiding teams at the University of Pittsburgh and Texas A&M to eight postseason bowl appearances and six top-10 finishes. His .697 winning percentage during that time ranked behind only Tom Osborne of Nebraska, Joe Paterno of Penn State, Lavell Edwards of Brigham Young, Pat Dye of Auburn and Bobby Bowden of Florida State. Yearly records.

Mark Smith -- Defensive Coordinator, Missouri Southern Lions

(as of football season 2003) Now in his third season (2002) with the Lions, Mark Smith is in his second year as a full-time assistant coach. He coaches the linebackers and is also responsible for the Lions' conditioning and winter football workout program. He joined the staff in December 1998 as facilities coordinator for the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center, as well as assistant football and strength coach. This past March, he was named a full-time assistant football coach.
Smith came to Southern as an assistant after being in the Kansas City Chiefs training camp for two years. After serving on the Chiefs' practice squad in 1997, Smith made it to the final cut in 1998 before suffering a quadriceps injury.
After starring as a linebacker and quarterback for nearby Webb City High School, Smith enjoyed an outstanding career at the University of Arkansas. He led the Razorbacks in tackles from his inside linebacking position in 1994 and 1995 and was a two-time candidate for the (Dick) Butkus Award which goes to the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
An All-Southeastern Conference selection in 1995, Mark received the Chism-Reed Award and the senior award for outstanding leadership. Captain of the Razorbacks in 1996, Smith ranks as the tenth all-time leading tackler in the school's history. Smith graduated from Arkansas in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in marketing and management.

Wayne Stehlik -- Lady'Back Basketball Director of Development

(as of basketball season 2005-06) Wayne Stehlik became the Lady Razorback Foundation's Director of Development in July 2002. Overseeing fund raising and other special projects for the Women's Athletics Department, Stehlik also serves as the department's liaison to the University's Campaign for the 21st Century. Stehlik served the University for 17 years as a member of the men's basketball coaching staff. During Stehlik's tenure with the Razorbacks, Arkansas made three Final Fours and won the national championship in 1994. Yearly men's coaching records.

Ken Stephens -- Head Football Coach, Ranger (TX) Community College

(as of football season 2004) After a 39-year coaching career and a short stint of retirement, Ken Stephens returned to the saddle as head coach of the Rangers.
Building programs has been his forte. He won three state high school championships in North Little Rock, Ark., and spent a season as an assistant at Arkansas State and the University of Arkansas before returning to his alma mater, the University of Central Arkansas - where he still holds the record for interceptions in a game (five) - to resurrect the Bear program. He coached Dr. Dale Morris, the Ranger College athletic director, at UCA, as well as Monte Coleman, who went on to a long career with the Washington Redskins in the NFL. In 10 seasons, Stephens built a 67-35-6 record at UCA, third-best in school history only to his two successors, winning four Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles and taking the Bears to four NAIA playoffs, the first in school history. His 1976 team played in the NAIA national championship game against Texas A&I in Kingsville, Texas. On the foundation Stephens built, UCA teams won NAIA national championships in 1984 and '85 and an NCAA Division II national crown in '91.
Seeking new challenges, Stephens left UCA on top in 1982 for four seasons at Lamar University, an NCAA Division I-AA school in Beaumont, Texas. He went to Arkansas Tech University in 1986, spending seven seasons there before retiring in 1992.
Stephens, a two-time NAIA All-American in track, finished runner-up in the NAIA National Championship Meet twice in the 110-meter high hurdles. He spent 2000 as the UCA golf coach. Yearly col. football coaching records.

Kay Stephenson -- Football

Played QB for San Diego in 1967 and Buffalo in 1968. NFL Stats.
Most of Stephenson's pro career in the 1980s and 1990s was as a head coach in the NFL, Canadian Football League and World League. He coached the Buffalo Bills from 1983-85 and led them to a 10-26 record. Kay spent four seasons as a head coach in the CFL: Sacramento (1993-94), San Antonio (1995), and Edmonton (1998). He was 38-37-1 overall in the CFL.
Spent 1997 as an assistant at Arkansas.

Jim Strong -- Football

Jim served as a graduate assistant at Arkansas from 1978-79 and came back as an assistant coach in 1983. He was offensive coordinator at Notre Dame before being named the head coach at UNLV in December of 1989. In four years at UNLV he compiled a 17-27 record. Yearly records.

John Stucky -- Retired from his position as Assistant Athletic Director for Physical Development, University of Tennessee

Stucky stepped down because of continuing medical problems. He had been on medical leave for the past year and retired on the advice of his physician.
As head of Tennessee's fitness and conditioning program, John Stucky ties his reputation as one of the best in the nation to his unquenchable thirst for new methods to promote his profession.
Stucky is recognized nationwide for his proficiency at inspiring athletes to perform at their ultimate physical capability. This spring (2001) Stucky was named one of 10 Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. The title is the highest honor that can be achieved as a strength and conditioning coach. It represents professionalism, knowledge, expertise and longevity in the field. Five years ago the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society named John as its national collegiate coach of the year.
Closer to home, his Southeastern Conference peers have picked him twice as the league's coach of the year. The importance UT attaches to Stucky's job was indicated four years ago when Athletic Director Doug Dickey promoted him to assistant athletic director from his previous post as director of athletic fitness.
John came to UT in 1994 from a six-year stint at Arkansas. In his combined coaching and fitness career, Stucky has also worked at Kansas State, Wichita State, North Carolina State and Oklahoma State. His employment since 1988 at Arkansas marked the second time he had been with the Razorbacks. He was also there in the late 1970s.
The native of Moundridge, Kansas, was a junior college All-America defensive lineman at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College before advancing to Kansas State where he won All-America honors as a noseguard. He was twice All-Big Eight. He earned bachelor and masters degrees in physical education at Kansas State before playing two years in the Canadian Football League.
Stucky came back to Kansas State as freshman line coach and strength coach, then served consecutively at Wichita State, Arkansas, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State and Arkansas again. It was when he went to North Carolina State in 1981 that Stucky left football coaching to devote his time exclusively to strength and conditioning responsibilities.

Personal Data
BORN: February 17, 1948 at Moundridge, Kan.
EDUCATION: Moundridge High School, Moundridge, Kan.; Hutchinson College 1966-67; Kansas State University 1968-70; Masters, Kansas State 1971
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Hutchinson College, Kansas State
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL: British Columbia Lions 1970-71 (CFL)
COACHING CAREER: Kansas State 1972-73; Wichita State 1974-76; Arkansas 1977-80; North Carolina State 1981-84; Oklahoma State 1984-88; Arkansas 1988-1993; Tennessee 1994-P.

Jay Terry -- Head Softball Coach, LeTourneau University LadyJackets

(as of softball season 2005-06) Jay Terry returned to the Longview area as the head volleyball and softball coach at LeTourneau University in 2003-04. In 2004-05 he was only the head softball coach. Terry grew up in Longview and graduated from Longview High School in 1984.
He brings with him a wealth of coaching experience in a number of different sports.
His previous coaching experience includes eight different scholastic schools. His previous collegiate coaching experience was with the University of Arkansas baseball team when he was the graduate assistant coach for the 1990 Southwest Conference championship team under head coach Norm DeBriyn.
He has worked in education the past 13 years as a teacher, athletic director and coach. His first eight years were in the public school system and then he decided to change to the private Christian school system where he has been for the past five years.
Terry graduated from the University of Arkansas in December of 1989 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Secondary Education. He has since continued his education by acquiring a Masters of Science degree in Educational Technology from the University of Texas at Tyler in August of 1999. Yearly Softball Records.
Volleyball team was 6-24 in 03-04.

Don Trull -- Football

An All American QB in 1963, Don played for Baylor University from 1961-63. He was drafted as a "future" in 1962 by the Baltimore Colts (NFL) and Houston Oilers (AFL) and signed with Houston in December 1962. Don went on to play quarterback for the Houston Oilers from 1964-69 before bouncing around. In a four year period he was traded in the sixth week of the 1967 season to the Boston Patriots and finished out 1967 and training camp 1968 with them. Released in Sept of 1968 and picked up by the Houston Oilers for 1968 and 1969 seasons. NFL Stats. Released by Houston after the 1969 season and played for Edmonton in the Canadian league for 1970 & 1971. He also served as the color commentator for Baylor University and the Houston Oilers.  Don is currently (2003) on the National Board of the NFL Alumni Association as well as the Houston chapter's past president.
Head freshman Coach at the University of Arkansas in 1972 and varsity QB coach in 1973 and 1974.

Ken Turner -- Baseball / Football / Athletic Director

Four-year letterman in baseball and football at Henderson State. Director of Athletics at Henderson State from 1989-2000 and head football coach from 1990-93; Inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001; played major role in HSU's move from NAIA to NCAA; All-AIC in baseball in 1955, coached for 36 years at HSU, The University of Arkansas and three state high schools; member of the Men's Council at HSU in 1954. Inducted into the Henderson State Hall of Honor in 2001.
Turner was special teams and offensive line coach for 15 years under Broyles, Lou Holtz and Ken Hatfield at Arkansas and coached All-American kickers Steve Little, Bruce Lahay and Greg Horne and eventual longtime NFL kicker Steve Cox. Yearly records.

Larry VanDerHeyden -- Offensive Line Coach, University of Alabama - Birmingham

(as of football season 2003) 2001 is Larry VanDerHeyden's seventh year as an assistant coach at UAB, working with the offensive line. He came to UAB in January, 1995, from the University of Arkansas, where he was the offensive line coach for the Razorbacks for two seasons (1993-94).
In 1996, the UAB offensive line boosted a running attack that set single-season team and individual records in rushing yards, average per game, and average per carry. The record-setting performance also included a new team record for rushing yards in a single game and the program's first 1,000-yard rusher.
Prior to coaching at Arkansas, VanDerHeyden was an assistant at Clemson University under head coaches Danny Ford and Ken Hatfield for 14 years. He was the offensive line coach for the Tigers for 11 seasons (1979-89) and was the offensive coordinator for three seasons (1990-92). During those 14 years, Clemson participated in nine post-season bowl games.
VanDerHeyden was the offensive coordinator at Memphis State University for four years (1975-78). Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at the University of Virginia (1974-75) and East Carolina University (1973-74). His coaching resume also includes working as the offensive coordinator at Indiana State (1969-73), assistant coach at Drake University (1969) and defensive line coach at Iowa State University (1965-67).
VanDerHeyden began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Iowa State, in 1964. He was also an assistant coach at Lake City (Iowa) High School in 1963.
VanDerHeyden was a three-year letter winner in baseball and football at Iowa State. He earned his undergraduate degree in physical education from Iowa State in 1962 and completed his master's degree in education at Iowa State in 1968.

Lanny Van Eman (Alma Mater: Wichita State) -- Baseball / Basketball

A two-sport star, who was a shortstop at Wichita State from 1958-62. Van Eman, after a one-year stint with the Yankees' organization, returned to WU and coached the baseball team in 1964, going 8-10. As a coach, though, Van Eman was primarily known on the basketball court. After starting his basketball coaching career at Wichita State (15 years), he went on to be head coach at the University of Arkansas for four seasons.
After Arkansas he was a West Virginia assistant, Arizona State assistant, Oregon State assistant, Boston Celtics assistant (1988-90), and Dallas Mavericks assistant. Yearly col. baseball coaching records. Yearly col. basketball coaching records.

See the U of A Coaching Records

Clyde Van Sickle -- Football

Lettered at Arkansas from 1927-29.
In 1930 Clyde played for the Frankford Yellow Jackets (11 games). Played nine games for the Green Bay Packers from 1932-33. NFL Stats.
He was the head coach at Little Rock Central High school from 1936-40, leading them to a 41-9-5 record. Won a State Championship in 1938 with a 10-0-1 record. Clyde coached at Arkansas in 1949 and 1952.

Fred von Appen -- Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Ends / Pass Rushers, University of Montana

(as of football season 2003) Fred was hired at Montana in 2003. He has been in the professional and collegiate coaching ranks for 34 seasons. He was most recently (2001) an assistant in the National Football League for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings (2000).
Prior to his one-year stints with the Giants and Vikings, von Appen spent 11 seasons at the college level, most recently as the head coach at the University of Hawaii from 1996-98. Prior to coaching at Hawaii he was the defensive line coach at Colorado in 1995 for a 10-2 team that defeated Oregon 38-6 in the Cotton Bowl.
From 1992-94, von Appen was the defensive coordinator at Stanford for Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh. It was his third stint as an assistant coach under Walsh (Stanford, 1977-78; San Francisco 49ers, 1983-88; and Stanford, 1992-94).
He was the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Pittsburgh from 1990-91. Prior to coaching at Pittsburgh, von Appen worked one season at Stanford (1989) as the defensive coordinator under Dennis Green in his first season as the head coach.
The Giants position was von Appen's fourth coaching job in the NFL, having previously coached with the Vikings (2000), the 49ers (1983-88), and the Green Bay Packers (1979-80). In his six seasons with the 49ers, the team was 75-30-1 (.712) in the regular-season and the playoffs, made the playoffs all six seasons, won the NFC West Division title five times, and won two Super Bowl Championships (XIX and XXIII).
Von Appen began his coaching career at his alma mater, Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, from 1964-65. After leaving Linfield he coached at a pair of Oregon High Schools, Centennial and Medford, each for one season.
From there he went to Arkansas (1969), UCLA (1970), Virginia Tech (171), Oregon (1972-76), and then Stanford. While at Oregon he was the defensive coordinator for former Griz head coach Don Read.
His first chance in the NFL came was in Green Bay, where he worked for two seasons under Packer legend Bart Starr. Yearly col. football coaching records.

Steve Walters -- Wide Receivers Coach, Jacksonville Jaguars

(as of football season 2006) Defensive back - Arkansas 1967-1970.
College coach: Tampa 1973, Northeastern Louisiana 1974-75, Morehead State 1976, Tulsa 1977-78, Memphis State 1979, Southern Methodist 1980-81, Alabama 1985.
Pro coach: New England Patriots 1982-84, 1997-98, New Orleans 1986-1996, Tennessee 1999-2004, Jacksonville Jaguars 2005-06.

Kyle Washburn -- Assistant Baseball Coach, Odessa College Wranglers

(as of baseball season 2005) Kyle enters his first year ('05) as Assistant Coach of the Wrangler baseball team after one year as an assistant coach at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, KS. Kyle was the head coach of the Red Deer General's summer collegiate team in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada in the summer of 2004 where his team was second in the league before he left early to come to Odessa College. While coaching at Hutchinson, Coach Washburn was in charge of coaching the catchers and the off-season and in-season strength and conditioning programs for the baseball team. At Odessa, Kyle will be in charge of much of the same, but will also be the team's hitting instructor.
Before getting started as a baseball coach, Kyle attended school at Westark College in Fort Smith, AR where he played third base for his two years on the team. While at Westark, Kyle received his Associates Degree in general education. After his two years at Westark, Coach Washburn moved on to the University of Arkansas where he played third base as a junior and hit .348. As a senior, Kyle began the year as a catcher before breaking his neck two weeks into the season which restricted him to being a designated hitter and third baseman. Kyle received his degree from the University of Arkansas in Marketing Management.

Kelley Waters -- Director of Basketball Operations (Ladyback basketball)

(as of basketball season 2006-07) Heading into her fourth season (04-05) with the Lady Razor-backs as the director of basketball operations, Kelley Waters coordinates office activities for the Lady'Back basketball staff, handles team travel and manages the team's new digital video editing system. Balancing responsibilities for the coaching staff as well as serving as the coordinator for the Lady Razorback summer basketball camps requires special talents.
Waters proved valuable during the transition time last year as Gardner came on board, particularly with summer camp. Taking over travel, handling equipment and the video system sound like small items, but the impact to the coaching staff is felt both on the court and on the recruiting trail.
The former communications coordinator for the Northern Texas PGA, Waters spent two years working on the business end of professional sports prior to returning to the college game at Arkansas. Waters was an intern in the communications branch of the LPGA, assisting the broadcast services division, prior to joining the Northern Texas PGA. As the communications coordinator for the NTPGA, she was the assistant editor of Texas Golf Quarterly, a contributor to PGA Magazine and worked with NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation.
As graduate assistant coach with Hardin-Simmons University, she helped the Cowgirls reach the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 in 1999 and a pair of American Southwest Conference championships in 1998 and 1999. While at Hardin-Simmons, Waters earned her master's degree in recreation and sports management.

Jerry Welch -- Football

Lettered in football at Arkansas in 1962, '63, & '64.
Spent some time as head coach at Chadron [Neb.] College.
Jerry Welch, took over the Little Rock Central High School Tigers for the 1970 season. A 1-8-1 record in 1970 was the worst football season since the school opened in 1894. In 1971, Coach Welch and the Tigers were 5-6-0.
Coach Welch left Central after the 1971 season to work on his doctorate at Northwest Louisiana State. Yearly records.

Dixie White -- Football

Played at Texas Tech from 1937-39 and was elected to the Texas Tech University Athletic Hall of Honor in 1983.
Head coach at Midwestern State University in 1951-52 (11-9-1). Assistant coach at Arkansas from 1955-61. Yearly records.

Doug Williamson -- Track

Doug competed in track and field at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and was selected to the All-Big Ten Conference team after scoring several times at the Big Ten Championships.
Prior to his collegiate coaching jobs, Williamson established himself in the coaching ranks at the high school level in Illinois. From 1976 to 1980, he coached girls and boys track programs at Naperville High School in Naperville, Ill.
Before his time at Naperville, Williamson was the head cross country and assistant track and field coach at Lockport Central High School in Lockport, Ill., from 1971 to 1976.
He was at Arkansas two different times. The first time was 1980. He returned to Arkansas as the sprints and hurdles coach around 2000. After about 10 years as a coach at the junior high and high school levels, Williamson saw coming to the Razorbacks the first time as an opportunity that he could not pass up.
In 1985, with the experience he gained as an assistant for the Hogs, Williamson took over as the head coach at the University of Virginia for both the men's and women's programs. In only one year at the school, Williamson led the Cavalier women to both the Atlantic Coast Conference indoor and outdoor titles. His efforts that year earned him ACC-Coach-of-the-Year honors.
After a short time in Virginia, Williamson entered the Southeastern Conference in 1986 as the head men's and women's coach at the University of Alabama and faced the daunting task of recruiting and competing against McDonnell's Razorbacks.
In his 10 years with the Crimson Tide, Williamson led them to four SEC Championships in the conference that has now developed into the nation's elite.
In 1997, Williamson left Alabama and collegiate track to seek out different endeavors.
Taught physical education and coached cross country and track at Vernon Hills High School in Illinois from 2003-05.

John Williamson -- Director of Athletics, Southwestern Assemblies of God University

(as of 2004-05 school year) A former linebacker, John lettered for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1989. He had a 10-year stint with Chi Alpha Athlete Outreach Ministries at Arizona State University (ASU) and most recently at Oklahoma State University (OSU).

Wendi Willits -- Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, State University of West Georgia Wolves

(as of basketball season 2005-06) Willits' credentials as a player are more than impressive, both on and beyond the collegiate level. She was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter for the University of Arkansas. As a freshman, she helped the Lady Razorbacks to the school's only trip to the NCAA Final Four.
Also, Willits played one season professionally, helping the Los Angeles Sparks to the 2001 WNBA Championship. Willits' collegiate career is well documented in the Arkansas records book. Three times she led the Lady Razorbacks in scoring. She holds school records for most three-point shots made and attempted for a career, season, and game. The latter came when Willits made nine from beyond the arc in a 1999 game vs. Georgia.
Willits also holds Arkansas school records for most consecutive three-point shots made (12), and for consecutive made free throws (25). The ability of Willits to hit from long-range led to two special honors. In 1999 she was chosen by the Basketball Hall of Fame as its Ed Steitz Award winner. Named for the man who brought the three-point shot rule change to the game, the Steitz is given to the nation's top three-point shooter. Also, following her senior year in 2001, she was a contestant in the ESPN Three-Point Shootout at the NCAA Men's Final Four.
A two-time All-SEC selection at guard, Willits also earned honors for her work in the classroom. The Kinesiology major earned a berth on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll during each of her four seasons at Arkansas.

Alex Wood -- Receivers Coach, University of Arkansas

(as of football season 2007) Wood has more than 26 years of coaching experience in the college and National Football League ranks including four years as the head coach of James Madison University. He was let go by Arkansas after the 2007 season.
A former running back and special teams player at the University of Iowa (1975-77), Wood graduated from Iowa in 1979 with a degree in secondary education and social studies. He also began his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater in 1978.
His first full-time coaching position came at Kent State University where he served as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach from 1979-80. The following two seasons (1981-82), Wood was the defensive back coach at Southern Illinois University. From 1982-85, Wood coached defensive backs and was the defensive coordinator at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.
Wood spent two seasons (1985-86) tutoring wide receivers and tight ends at the University of Wyoming. He then served two years as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Washington State University.
From 1989-93, Wood was part of one of the most successful college football programs in the nation. He served as the running backs coach under Dennis Erickson for the Miami Hurricanes. During Wood's tenure, the Hurricanes won two national championships (1989 and 1991) including a perfect 12-0 season in 1991. Miami played in four New Year's Day bowl games in that span. Wood was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wake Forest in 1993. He coached for two seasons in Winston-Salem, N.C. before landing his first head coaching opportunity.
In 1995, Wood was named as the head football coach at James Madison University, where he would serve for four years.
Wood moved into the pro ranks in 1999 when he was hired by Dennis Green as the quarterbacks' coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He spent four seasons with the Vikings' organization.
Wood was named wide receivers coach by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003.
In 2004, Wood rejoined Green on the staff of the Arizona Cardinals. Wood served one season as the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals overseeing the offensive staff and handling play-calling responsibilities.

Bowden Wyatt -- Football

Bowden Wyatt played end for the Vols from 1936-38 and was an All-American in '38. He coached at Mississippi State before he took over the reins for the Wyoming Cowboys in 1947. At Wyoming, Wyatt began operating a football program which hadn't had a winning coach since William McMurray left in 1906. They had recorded a losing record in 16 of the previous 18 seasons.
The team went 9-1 in 1949 (including the 103-0 humiliation of Northern Colorado).
He strung together the school's first undefeated season in 1950 and went to their first bowl game ever at the Gator Bowl against Washington & Lee. He left for Arkansas after the 1952 season.
Following a two-year stint as coach at Arkansas (53-54), he got the job he had always wanted, the chance to follow in his mentor's footsteps as the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Wyatt won national coach of the year honors for putting together an undefeated regular season and winning the SEC championship in 1956, with only one game (a 6-0 win at then-No. 2 Georgia Tech) decided by single digits. Under Wyatt, the Vols were 49-29-4 from 1955-1982. He was elected to the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame in 1972, the University of Wyoming Hall of Fame in 1994 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972 (player) and 1997 (coach). He was 31st on SI's 50 Greatest Tennessee Sports Figures in 1999.
Passed away on January 21, 1969. Yearly records.

Ning Zhao -- Volleyball Graduate Assistant, University of Central Arkansas

(as of volleyball season 2001) Ning Zhao comes to UCA from a stellar playing career at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
A native of Beijing, China, Zhao was a member of the Chinese Junior National Team, which is comprised of the top 12 junior volleyball players in the country. She attended Barton County Community College and was a two-time junior college All-American before moving to Arkansas.
Playing for the Lady Razorbacks, Zhao played on a team ranked 8th nationally her junior season and as high as 15th nationally as a senior. She was co-captain in 1999 and selected first-team All-Southeastern Conference. Zhao ranked 9th in the nation in assists per game and 2nd in the SEC in 1998.
Zhao was named to the 1999 All-District team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Page created: 6-29-02

Page last updated: 8-11-08