The University of Nevada’s Eric Musselman is nearing a contract with the University of Arkansas to be the next head coach of the men’s Razorback basketball team.
Report: Arkansas to hire Nevada's Eric Musselman as next head coach https://t.co/W9LEk4JeM1 pic.twitter.com/B5G1dKSlIl
— theScore (@theScore) April 7, 2019
According to reports, Arkansas and Musselman are said to be finalizing contract negotiations, and barring a last-minute collapse, he will be the next coach for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas is in negotiations with Nevada coach Eric Musselman and, barring a last-minute collapse, he will be the next coach for the Razorbacks, source told @Stadium
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 7, 2019
The University was rumored to be in communication with Musselman last week. Though claims that he had been on the Arkansas campus were proved false, a FlightAware log showed a plane flying out of Springdale make a stop in Reno, Nevada overnight last week. Reno is home to the University of Nevada.
Reports also surfaced last week that Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek sought to speak with Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard before moving forward with a hire. Beard led his Texas Tech team to a Final Four victory Saturday night.
Read More: Hunter Yurachek is Boss Hog
Mike Irwin, of Pig Trail Nation, said via Twitter that Yurachek likely wanted to hire Musselman last week but was rebuffed an Arkansas Board of Trustee member.
Was told that HY wanted to hire him last Tuesday but was rebuffed by a BOT member. Looks like, after failing to secure Marshall, they revisited the Musselman hire and the okay was given.The BOT was active in this search. Depending on your point of view this is good or bad.
— Mike Irwin (@MikeIrwinPTN) April 7, 2019
Musselman is believed to be one of the University’s top choices for the position, following Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, who turned the job down early last week, and Chris Beard, who was never viewed as a real possibility.
Musselman has served as the head coach of the University of Nevada’s men’s basketball team since 2015, going 110-34 in those four years. His Wolf Pack team went 29-5 this season, losing to Florida in the first round of the NCAA tournament. His team made it to the Sweet Sixteen during the 2017-18 season.
Prior to taking over at Nevada, Musselman served as an assistant at LSU to Johnny Jones. He was an assistant at Arizona State from 2012 to 2014. Musselman also has significant professional experience, having been the head coach of the Golden State Warriors (2002-04) and Sacramento Kings (2006-08). He served as assistant coach to the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies. His four years at Nevada are his only as a collegiate head coach.
Arkansas dismissed Mike Anderson, who’d led the team for eight seasons, nearly two weeks ago.