Welcoming Coaches
This past year, we had the pleasure of welcoming two new head coaches to the Razorback Family. In the span of just more than two weeks, Eric Musselman and Jordyn Wieber arrived on campus to take leadership of our men’s basketball and gymnastics programs, respectively. From the start, Eric and Jordyn ignited excitement throughout the Razorback Nation and around the nation about the future of two of our most popular programs.
Eric grew up in a basketball family and his high-energy, basketball IQ and passion for teaching the game of basketball made him a tremendous fit for our program. He utilizes analytics and technology to help develop a strategic road map for success, including individualized plans for the development of each student-athlete on and off the court.
As one of the world’s elite gymnasts and an assistant at one of the top collegiate programs in the country, Jordyn has already experienced more than many of us will in a lifetime. She has a maturity beyond her years and her experiences at the highest level of gymnastics have already been a tremendous asset to the young women in our program.
I am excited about our future with Eric and Jordyn leading our student-athletes in these two programs. If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to make your plans now to join us at Bud Walton and Barnhill in the coming year as we officially launch these exciting new eras in men’s basketball and gymnastics.
Welcoming Coach Musselman
Coach Musselman was officially hired on April 7 and would Call the Hogs with his family at Bud Walton Arena just a short time later.
Wieber Hired to Lead Gymbacks
On April 24, Jordyn Wieber boarded a flight from Los Angeles and headed to Fayetteville where she would be named the next gymnastics coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Musselman First Message to Fans
Before boarding the plane in Nevada to head to Arkansas, Coach Musselman has a quick message for the Razorback fans!
Wieber Throws Out First Pitch
In her first public appearance, Jordyn Wieber wowed the crowd at Baum-Walker Stadium with a unique first pitch that only an Olympic Gold Medalist could pull off!
Musselman First Team Meeting
Wieber First Team Meeting
Musselman Mic'd Up
Get to Know Jordyn Wieber
The HogPod
Episode 8: Jordyn Wieber
Jordyn Wieber doesn’t need an introduction to most—she’s an Olympic champion, a decorated star, and a bona fide celebrity. Now, at just 23 years old, she’s the new coach of the Arkansas gymnastics program. We chat with Jordyn about her start in gymnastics at a young age (6:45), what her journey to the Olympics was like (11:00), and what life after the Olympics is like for a gymnast (12:30). We get her thoughts on what it was like to not qualify for the 2012 Olympic all-around title and having to bounce back for the team competition (16:37), when she decided she wanted to be a coach (22:34), and becoming a team manager at UCLA (25:35). Finally, we talk to Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek about what he was thinking in hiring a 23-year-old first time head coach (29:30) and more.
Episode 5: Eric Musselman
We sit down for an exclusive conversation with new Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman. We start at the beginning, with the story of how he became a head coach for the first time (5:00), how he used salt shakers to land an NBA job with Chuck Daly (11:25), and why he decided to get into the college game (17:00). Then he tells the story of how the Oakland Raiders gave him an office to study film (33:30), before we bring in former Razorback Corey Beck—who played against Musselman’s teams in the CBA—for his thoughts on the new coach (44:30). Finally, the new Razorback coach tells us what fans can expect from his teams at Arkansas (1:00:30).