BASEBALL
Hogs extend contract of hitting coach
University of Arkansas baseball assistant coach Nate Thompson signed a new two-year contract through 2021 on Tuesday.
The contract was finalized Friday when it was signed by UA Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz and UA System President Donald Bobbitt. The contract was released through an open-records request by WholeHogSports.com.
Thompson's new deal is worth $180,000 this year and will increase to $190,000 in the 2020-21 school year. It also includes bonuses worth up to four months of annual salary, and a noncompete clause that prohibits Thompson from accepting "employment in any coaching capacity with any other member" of the SEC.
Thompson's salary in the first year of his new contract is an increase of 7% over his previous contract that paid him $168,300 per year. Thompson received a $3,300 pay raise last season.
Since he was hired to replace Tennessee Coach Tony Vitello as Razorbacks' hitting coach and recruiting coordinator in the summer of 2017, Thompson has been part of the first Arkansas teams to play in the College World Series in consecutive seasons.
The Razorbacks have increased their power numbers under Thompson, including a program-record 98 home runs in 2018.
Arkansas hit 88 more home runs this year -- the third-highest total in program history -- and had 142 doubles, which tied is for fourth on the program's all-time list.
Sports on 07/21/2019