FAYETTEVILLE — It didn’t take Chris Bucknam long to figure out whom he needed to call Thursday after accepting the job as Arkansas’ cross country and track and field coach.

That would be Dick Booth, former coach John McDonnell’s right-hand man for more than 25 years.

“The first person I called when [Arkansas Athletic Director ] Jeff [Long ] gave me the nod was Dick Booth,” Bucknam said after being formally introduced as McDonnell’s replacement Friday. “He’ll be an incredible resource for me.” Bucknam said Booth, Arkansas’ field events coach, has accepted his offer to remain with the Razorbacks. Booth is attending the U. S. Olympic trials in Oregon and was not at Bucknam’s introductory news conference.

The future of Kyle White, who just completed his second season as Arkansas’ sprints coach, and director of operations Danny Green, who has been with the Razorbacks for 13 seasons, isn’t as clear.

“Right now, I don’t have any other plans,” Bucknam said when asked about completing his staff. “I haven’t given it that deep of thought, simply because of the whirlwind that’s been going on around my life for the last week.” Retaining Booth seems to have been a no-brainer for Bucknam.

“He’s part of that winning formula and he’s an incredible motivator, and an unbelievable technician, and I’d be crazy if I didn’t invite him on my staff to help me get through these next couple of years,” Bucknam said of Booth. “He’s outstanding, and I’m looking forward to working with him, no doubt about it.” Booth, 60, coached at Arkansas from 1978-1984, then returned in 1988 after a stint as head coach at Southwestern Louisiana. Booth also interviewed for the vacancy created by McDonnell’s retirement and had received the backing of Mc-Donnell and the current team members.

“The finality of it is kind of a shock, but it is what it is,” Booth said. “I’ve got to make it work out. Life goes on, and I can’t worry about what didn’t happen. I have to work on making things happen.

“ Of all the guys I heard mentioned, [Bucknam ] is the best one. I know people say ‘Northern What ?’ but he’s had the best team in Iowa for 10 years, better than Iowa and Iowa State, and deserved the chance to move up.” McDonnell, who attended Friday’s announcement, said he was pleased his longtime assistant is getting the chance to work with his replacement.

“I feel it’s an excellent decision on [Bucknam’s ] part because Dick Booth is the best field event coach in the country — not one of them, the best,” McDonnell said. “I think it’ll be a great fit, absolutely.”