After eight seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances, the Arkansas Razorbacks and head men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson parted ways in March. That left the program in search of a new voice but, on Sunday morning, word broke that Arkansas has set its sights on Nevada head coach Eric Musselman, with the expectation that the two sides will form a marriage beginning with the 2019-20 season.
Sources: Nevada's Eric Musselman is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at Arkansas. Official announcement expected soon.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 7, 2019
Nevada’s Eric Musselman is in talks with Arkansas to become its next head coach, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 7, 2019
Though the 2018-19 season did not fully live up to expectations at Nevada, Musselman enjoyed great success in his four-year stint with the Wolfpack. He posted a wildly impressive record of 110-34 and, in the final three seasons, Nevada won the Mountain West regular season championship and reached the NCAA Tournament.
Musselman also has a lengthy track record in NBA circles, serving as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies. He was also the head coach of the Golden State Warriors (two seasons) and Sacramento Kings (one season). Given that Musselman is only 54 years old, that is a lengthy list of accomplishments.
Arkansas has a rich basketball history, headlined by the 1994 National Championship under Nolan Richardson, and Musselman should be considered a solid hire for the Razorbacks. Now, however, the real work begins and it will be interesting to see how he is able to recruit and perform at the high-major level and in opposition to other SEC programs.
