UA looks at ways to retain assistants

Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith directs his players during practice Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the UA practice field in Fayetteville.
Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith directs his players during practice Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the UA practice field in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas football Coach Bret Bielema is working with Athletic Director Jeff Long to add incentives, longer terms and pay raises for some members of the staff.

Bielema wouldn't say which coaches are up for raises, increased terms or other perks.

Razorback staff

Arkansas assistant coaches rank 19th in the country by combining for a salary of $3.218 million. A look at the pay of Arkansas assistants.

Coach;Title;Salary;end of term

Jim Chaney;Offensive coordinator;$550,000;June 2016

Robb Smith;Defensive coordinator;$500,000;June 2016

Sam Pittman;Offensive line;$500,000;June 2016

Randy Shannon;Sr. Assoc. HC/LBs;$400,000;June 2015

Clay Jennings;Defensive backs;$320,000;June 2015

Michael Smith;Receivers;$275,000;June 2015

Joel Thomas;Running backs;$245,000;June 2015

Rory Segrest;Defensive line;$225,000;June 2015

Barry Lunney Jr.;Tight ends;$200,000;June 2015

*Does not include bonus pay

"We're still in the process of it," Bielema said last week. "There are obviously certain guys who have been with me who are getting near the end of their contracts that have done an exceptional job for us, and not just the visible things you see.

"Recruiting is the lifeblood of this program. Guys like Joel Thomas and Barry Lunney and Michael Smith have done a really nice job. It's not easy to recruit to 3-9 now, you know what I mean?

"What we've been able to do, and what I think we can finish in the next three to four weeks, I think is pretty special."

Defensive coordinator Robb Smith, in particular, has added to his resume during his 10 months with the Razorbacks, who rank No. 24 in the country in total defense heading into the Dec. 29 Texas Bowl against Texas.

Arkansas has not ranked in the nation's top 25 in total defense since the 2000. That team led the SEC by allowing 292 yards per game and was No. 12 nationally. The Razorbacks, who are allowing 345.4 yards per game, are also No. 15 in scoring defense, allowing 20.3 points per game, and No. 22 in rush defense (122.0 per game).

Smith, who agreed to a two-year deal at $500,000 per year in February, was nominated by Bielema for the Broyles Award, named for the legendary Arkansas Coach Frank Broyles and given annually to the nation's top assistant coach.

Smith was not one of the five finalists for the award, won by Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman, at this past Tuesday's luncheon in Little Rock.

"What Robb Smith has done has changed the culture of our defense," Bielema said, when nominating Smith for the award.

Arkansas became the first unranked team in college football to shut out consecutive ranked opponents with 17-0 and 30-0 victories over LSU and Ole Miss.

Smith's salary is tied with offensive line coach Sam Pittman's as the second-highest among the Arkansas assistants behind Jim Chaney's $550,000 deal.

Arkansas' salary pool for assistants was $3.218 million in 2014, which ranks 19th among FBS teams, according to the USA Today salary database released Wednesday. The pay for Arkansas' assistants is ninth in the SEC.

Shannon, Arkansas' linebackers coach and the only defensive holdover from Bielema's original staff in 2013, received the title of senior associate head coach and a raise from $315,000 to $400,000 last off-season.

Defensive back coach Clay Jennings agreed to a deal through the end of June at $320,000 last February, and defensive line coach Rory Segrest took a $225,000 salary last January that goes through the end of June.

Pittman's salary went to $500,000 on Feb. 12, 2013, before he had coached a game at Arkansas after Alabama Coach Nick Saban made him a job offer. Pittman's agreement lasts through June 30, 2016.

Receivers coach Smith ($275,000), running backs coach Thomas ($245,000) and tight ends coach Lunney ($200,000) have worked under one-year agreements since joining Bielema's staff in early 2013.

Bielema said in a recent interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he expected the Razorbacks to continue their improvements in 2015.

"We keep our coaches intact for the most part, I think we'll be in a good situation," he said.

Sports on 12/13/2014

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