Significant Moments in UA Athletics in 2008
Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2009
Jan. 1
Jeff Long officially begins his career as Arkansas' athletic director, replacing Frank Broyles after serving for 50 years in a capacity as either football coach or athletic director at the university for 50 years.The men's and women's athletic departments officially merge into one department.
Jan. 9
UA chancellor John A. White announces intention to resign from post, effective June 30.
Feb. 25
Long announces that general admission tickets for Arkansas football games will increase from $35 to $45.The increase is the first at the UA since 2004.
March 11
After many rumors and reports, Arkansas and Texas A&M officially announce a 10-year contract to play at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington,Texas.The football series is set to begin in 2009.
April 3
South Carolina athletics administrator Chris Wyrick hired as Arkansas' senior associate athletic director for external affairs.
April 21
Legendary track and field coach John McDonnell announces that he will retire at the end of the spring outdoor track season, which ends June 14 with Arkansas' 17thplace finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The track coach finishes his career with 42 national championships in 36 years at Arkansas.
May 1
Jon Fagg hired away from North Carolina State to become Arkansas' senior associate athletic director for compliance and student-athlete services. The hiring is a showing Long's aspirations to focus more on compliance and academic issues within the athletic department.
June 10
Volleyball head coach Chris Poole leaves Arkansas after 14 seasons to take head coaching job at Florida State.
June 13
Bill Gray announces intentions to end career as a senior associate athletic director at the UA on Aug. 1. Gray spent 29 years at the UA.Twenty-four of those years were served as an athletic administrator.
June 25
Matt Trantham joins UA athletic department as senior associate athletic director for internal operations.The Hot Springs native spent the previous eight years at the University of Oklahoma.
June 27
Long hires Northern Iowa coach Chris Bucknam as McDonnell's successor to run the men's track and field, and cross country programs.
July 1
G. David Gearhart starts new era as White's successor as university's chancellor.
July 11
Long hires Kentucky assistant coach Robert Pulliza as Arkansas' volleyball head coach.
Long also announces women's athletic teams will now be referred to as Razorbacks. All logos, uniforms and media guides also drop Lady Razorbacks and Lady'Backs nickname.
July 21
UA debuts new Web site, ArkansasRazorbacks.com. The domain name replaces Hogwired.com and Ladybacks.com as Arkansas' official athletics Web site as both departments continue merger.
July 24
Dean Weber shifts roles as director of athletic training to director of equipment operations.The new job title at the UA is the first for Weber in 35 years.
July 29
Jacksonville Jaguars trainer Joe Sheehan leaves NFL to take job at UA as coordinator of athletic training and sports medicine.
Aug. 4
Long announces ticket prices for basketball games will be hiked to $25.
Aug. 22
UA and War Memorial Stadium Commission extend agreement to play at least two football games in Little Rock each year until 2016, a two-year extension.
Aug. 26
Long announces new administrative structure in the athletic department that includes an executive and senior staff.
Nov. 1
The Razorback Foundation board of directors votes to remove Chuck Dicus as president of the private fund-raising arm of the UA athletic department. Dicus' tenure as president ends after 17 years.
Nov. 3
Razorback Foundation votes to promote within, bumping Harold Horton up from vice president to the role of president and executive director of the foundation. Sean Rochelle moves from role at UA as athletic director for development to the foundation as associate director.
October
Long reveals the UA is attempting to secure a $5 million loan for ongoing and new capital improvement projects.
Nov. 20
UA soccer head coach Gordon Henderson resigns after five seasons.
Dec. 12
Nolan Richardson returns to Bud Walton Arena, more than six years after his firing at the UA as its head basketball coach. Richardson takes part in a press conference with Long and current basketball coach John Pelphrey to announce that his 1994 national championship team would be honored at the arena as part of the UA's "Celebration of a Championship" on March 1. Richardson thanks Long several times during the press conference for reaching out to him and giving his former players an opportunity to finally be officially recognized by the university 15 years after their national title. "I am honored to be here, and I'm sure that our players will be happy to come back home again and call this their home," Richardson said."We've been gone from home a long time."
Dec. 23
Long hires Erin Aubry as Arkansas' soccer coach.
Dec. 30
An LED ribbon board on the upperdeck facade of Walton Arena is operational for the first time, marking the end of noticeable upgrades at the arena that included a new court finish, classic Razorback logo at midcourt, goals, courtside seating, media seating, an LED board on the scorer's table and arena lighting upgrades.
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