UA basketball breakout

Anderson replaces Deets with Petway

Mike Anderson speaks during his season-ending news conference Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Mike Anderson speaks during his season-ending news conference Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said the vacancy for the basketball team's strength and conditioning coach drew a lot of interest, but ultimately he decided to promote Adam Petway, who had served as an assistant under David Deets.

Deets resigned after last season to go into private business.

photo

Adam Petway

"When David resigned, I took my time on it and had a chance to visit with a lot of other strength and conditioning coaches and got input from different people," Anderson said Monday. "But the thing I like about Adam was his passion, his drive.

"He eats it, sleeps it, lives it.

"I mean, he's up here first thing in the morning and he's the last one to leave."

Anderson said Deets, who worked for Anderson at Missouri and Arkansas for eight years, did a good job of mentoring Petway to prepare him as a replacement.

Petway's promotion also means there will be continuity in the strength and conditioning program.

"He has a tremendous relationship with our guys and he individualizes [workouts] and he can relate to them," Anderson said. "That's so, so important.

"He's in tune to what I'm all about."

Upcoming Events