FOOTBALL Segrest to make $225,000
New Arkansas defensive line coach Rory Segrest’s salary will be $225,000.
Segrest, 40, signed an offer letter to join Coach Bret Bielema’s staff on Wednesday and the University of Arkansas released the letter Thursday.
Segrest also will take a role in coaching the specialists, as did his predecessor Charlie Partridge. Unlike Partridge, who was paid $350,000 last season, Segrest will not carry the title assistant head coach.
The letter of agreement runs through June 30, 2015. Segrest has a $100,000 buyout if he leaves Arkansas between now and Feb. 15, 2015, and a $50,000 buyout between Feb. 16, 2015, and the end of his agreement.
The hiring completes Bielema’s staff for next season, barring any further changes. The salary pool for Arkansas assistants in 2014 is now at $3.1 million, down $125,000 from last season.
- Tom Murphy
ASU introduces Cauthen
Arkansas State Coach Blake Anderson formally introduced Joe Cauthen as his defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in a statement released Thursday.
Cauthen comes to Arkansas State after spending the last three seasons at Middle Tennessee, coaching the Blue Raiders’ linebackers in 2011 and defensive line in 2012 and 2013. He was also their special teams coordinator during his three seasons there.
He was last a coordinator at NCAA Division II Valdosta State in 2007-2010, a time in which he helped the Blazers to the 2007 Division II national title while leading Division II with 27 interceptions in that year. He has also coached at Texas A&M-Commerce, FCS-level Stephen F. Austin and Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.
Cauthen joins assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Walt Bell and offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator Glen Elarbee as members of Anderson’s staff to be officially announced.
TRACK AND FIELD Razorbacks open indoor season
Arkansas’ defending men’s NCAA indoor championship team will open the track and field season today at the Arkansas Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville. Field events begin at 11 a.m. with running events at 1 p.m.
The Razorbacks return 13 All-Americans, including NCAA champions Andrew Irwin (pole vault) and Kevin Lazas (heptathlon).
Arkansas’ women’s team, which finished fourth at the NCAA indoor meet last year, also will compete at today’s meet.
BASEBALL Finley named to All-American team
Trent Finley, a 6-3 first baseman who led Harding Academy to the Class 3A state baseball title last spring, has been named to the MaxPreps 2013 Baseball Small Schools All-American First Team.
Finley batted .495, hit 14 home runs and had 61 RBI in only 103 at-bats last spring. He also scored 48 runs, hit 15 doubles and 2 triples. Finley was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Mr. Baseball for 2013. He was one of only 30 players across the country to be named to the MaxPreps team.
Sports, Pages 25 on 01/10/2014