Pelphrey Canned By Arkansas

When Arkansas head basketball coach John Pelphrey landed the number 7 recruiting class in the nation, it looked like he would get a stay of execution for another year to coach those players. Now it looks like he won't get that chance. Also those players may now be questioning their committmentsto the Razorbacks.

A source told ESPN.com that Pelphrey will be let go after 4 seasons at the school. Pelphrey learned of his fate during an end of the season meeting with Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long Sunday morning. Though the exact number isn't given in his employment contract, Pelphrey's buyout is believed to be in the neighborhood of $1.8 million to be paid out over three years.


Arkansas failed to make the NCAA tournament the last three years, which seemed to be his undoing in Fayetteville. Not to mention the off court troubles of the program that saw 15 players suspended during Pelphrey's tenure.

Who coaches the Razorbacks now that Pelphrey is gone? I don't know. Word is that they'll go after Missouri's Mike Anderson, who was an assistant under former coach Nolan Richardson. If they can't land him they might go after Marquette's Buzz Williams. No matter who it is, they'll be in the market for a high profile coach. That'll be crucial to the recruits that have pledged to come on board next season.