Arkansas alum Brandon Battle joins Razorback coaching staff

FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback men’s head coach Doug Case has announced the addition of Arkansas alum Brandon Battle to the coaching staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Battle, from Edwardsville, Illinois, competed for the Razorbacks from 2022 to 2025, earning an All-America honor in the 4 x 400m relay along with SEC Indoor silver medals in the 4 x 400m relay and distance medley relay (45.45 second leg split).

Among all sports in the SEC, Battle was Arkansas men’s representative on the Brad Davis 2024-25 SEC Community Service team.

“I’m very excited about Brandon Battle coming in and helping us in recruiting and with the sprints,” stated Case. “He’s got a really good background, ran at Arkansas, and was an All-American. He knows our program and knows how it works. I’m really excited about him being part of our program in a coaching role.”

Indoors, Battle set a career best of 45.77 in the 400m and ranks No. 8 on the UA all-time list. He ran second leg with a 45.23 split on a 3:03.18 indoor 4 x 400m relay performance at the Tyson Invitational which ranks No. 4 on the UA all-time list.

Outdoors when Arkansas won the 2025 Mt. SAC Relays 4 x 400m, Battle ran first leg (45.5 split) as the Razorbacks produced a time of 3:01.82, which ranks No. 6 on the UA all-time list. Battle also ran the opening leg of the Razorback 4 x 400m relay that posted the leading time of 3:02.13 in the 2025 NCAA West First Round. That time ranks No. 9 on the UA all-time list.

“It’s crazy with the timing of this opportunity,” said Battle. “It’s a door that opened for me and I took full advantage of it. It’s always been my dream job to be a Division I coach, and especially now at Arkansas. Coach Case presented the opportunity to me, and I said I want to do it.

“With these guys being a similar age or just a year or two younger I’ve built relationships with them over the past few years and helped recruit some of them who are here now. We all respect each other and know when we’re on the track it’s all business. Off the track we check in with them personally and make sure they’re good.”

Transitioning into a coaching career after completing college can often become a nomadic lifestyle for a few seasons. Being able to move into a coaching role within the same program you competed makes for a much smoother transition.

“Anytime you can make the transition easy for the student-athlete it’s going to help out your program and make things flow,” noted case. “I know that Brandon understands what’s going on. He was a great student while on the track with us. I expect him to do the same with the guys on the team now.

“Already he’s got himself in the mix. He’s helping them out as they learn things about competing on this level and competing in the SEC and NCAA meets. He’s going to be a great asset to our program.”

Battle relishes the opportunity given his experiences as a Razorback, which included being part of a program that won seven SEC team titles during his four indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. Arkansas also claimed a pair of SEC triple crowns during that time span, along with a national championship at the 2023 NCAA Indoor meet.

“This program has meant so much to me over the past four years,” Battle said. “This was the school I committed to and competed here all four years. I didn’t even think about transferring at all. The relationship and trust that Coach Case and I built during that time grew and continues to grow.”

Given the changing landscape in collegiate sports with transfers joining programs each season, having coaches on staff who know and understand the history of the Razorback program becomes an essential feature.

“When the portal opens up and you add 10 to 20 new guys it helps to have a coach that’s been in our program and understands the system and how things work,” added Case. “That’s exactly what Brandon is and it will be a big asset for us.”