FAYETTEVILLE - Between sources and multiple media reports, all indications are that Arkansas could announce the hiring of a new athletic director by Friday afternoon.
According to reports, atop the short list is University of Tulsa Athletic Director Derrick Gragg, who served as an administrator under Frank Broyles at Arkansas before leaving for Eastern Michigan in 2006. The Alabama native played football at Vanderbilt before moving into the business of college athletics. He has overseen the Golden Hurricane program since 2013, ushering in several high profile hirings and firings during his first year at the helm.
Gragg declined to comment to the Tulsa World newspaper when contacted on Wednesday. If hired, he would be the first African American athletic director in the history of the university.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Thursday morning that current Razorback Foundation Director Scott Varady was also one of the final candidates in the mix for the job.
Other names who were reportedly considered in the search include former Razorback and investment banker Kevin Scanlon, and former Razorback Foundation Executive Director Sean Rochelle.