FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas said Wednesday it has signed coach Eric Musselman to a new five-year deal that could keep it with the Razorbacks until the 2028 season.
The deal, which comes a month after Arkansas reached its first NCAA tournament, the appearance of Elite Eight in more than 25 years, will run from May 1 to April 2026 and includes the potential for a pair of automatic extensions of a year, if the Hogs receive the NCAA tournament bids “within the agreement.”
Arkansas lost to eventual national champion Baylor in the Southern Regional Finals and was the only team to play the Bears with a single figure during the NCAA tournament. The Razorbacks finished 10th in the final poll of the Associated Press, which does not take into account the NCAA tournament game.
“Coach Musselman won this opportunity based on the immense progress he and his coaching staff have made over the past two seasons, culminating in the most exciting season in the recent history of Razorback basketball,” said athletic director Hunter Yurachek.
Musselman will receive $ 4 million in annual compensation, with additional compensation available based on longevity and “success in the SEC and NCAA tournament.”
“Arkansas is one of the first programs in the country, and my family and I are ecstatic to be here,” Musselman said. “I am grateful for the university’s commitment to me, my family and the future of our basketball program.”
Musselman is 45-19 in two years in Arkansas and 155-53 in six years as the college’s head coach. This season, Arkansas advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1995 and won 25 games overall, including 13 in the SEC to finish second in the conference.
A year before Musselman’s arrival, the Razorbacks went 18-16 and lost in the second round of the NIT tournament. Arkansas went 20-12 in Musselman’s first season. Last season went even better, despite leading scorers Isaiah Joe and Mason Jones jumping into the NBA. Moses Moody was the first freshman from Razorback to win All-American honors and the first to be a consensual selection for the first All-SEC team. Freshman of the Year in the league is the first freshman of Razorback to declare for the NBA draft.
“Our staff remains focused on winning basketball games and building our list for the future,” Musselman said. “We look forward to continuing to build on the foundation we established in our first two seasons, in an effort to be even more successful for our program, for our university and for Razorback fans everywhere.”