New deals not set yet with aides

Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith directs his players during practice Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the UA practice field in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and Athletic Director Jeff Long are working to keep Bielema's football staff intact with the bowl season, holidays and annual coaching carousel all looming at once.

"We've started some talks," Long told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday. "We haven't finalized it. ... There'll be some things [inducements].

"We want to be, and I want to be, pro-active in rewarding the coaches for success. We're having success. We've made it to the bowl and hopefully we'll continue that success continuum there. But after every season we want to look at and retain the coaches we feel are making us better."

The Razorbacks made a three-game improvement to 6-6 and will play Texas on Dec. 29 in the Texas Bowl in Houston.

Long said he thinks Bielema is building the football program the right way and that Bielema's $3.2 million per year contract, which runs through December 2018, also will be reviewed.

"It is our desire that he remain here for a long time," Long said .

Neither Bielema nor Long addressed the needs of specific assistant coaches.

Arkansas' three highest-paid assistants -- offensive coordinator Jim Chaney ($550,000), offensive line coach Sam Pittman ($500,000) and defensive coordinator Rob Smith ($500,000) -- have contracts that run through June, 2016.

The Razorbacks rank No. 24 nationally in total defense and No. 15 in scoring defense entering the bowl season after Smith's first 12 games as an SEC coordinator. Arkansas was No. 76 in total defense and 88th in scoring defense in 2013.

Smith shied away from discussing a salary increase Wednesday, instead talking about how much he enjoys working at Arkansas and how much respect he has for Bielema and Long.

"My real focus right now has been getting ready for Texas," Smith said. "We've been on the recruiting trail, and if you just focus on those things I think the big-picture stuff takes care of itself."

Smith wouldn't look too far down the road when asked if he saw himself working with the Arkansas defense next year.

"I see myself being at practice tonight and the next day," he said. "Really, I take things one day at a time. But I love it here at Arkansas. I really do. I'm just focused on the job we have here."

Linebackers coach Randy Shannon makes $400,000 per year while also serving as senior associate head coach, defensive backs coach Clay Jennings makes $320,000 per year and defensive line coach Rory Segrest makes $225,000 per year.

Jennings said any raise would be welcomed, but he isn't getting caught up in it.

"When you sign a contract, I mean, that's your contract." he said. "You just put your nose to the ground and you keep working and you'll be rewarded. What's for you is for you, and what's for everybody else, that's for them."

Bielema told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Dec. 4 that offensive assistants Michael Smith, Joel Thomas and Barry Lunney Jr., who have been working on year-to-year agreements, have done a strong job in coaching and recruiting.

Long said his focus has to be on the salary pool available at Arkansas, not whether new Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's reported $1.6 million salary might impact the profession. Long said there will always be outliers for individual coaching salaries.

"You know those affect the market, but as an AD, that's one of the challenges that we have is to look at the market and compensate coaches fairly and equitable within our means," Long said. "So we work hard to do that.

"Again, we want to compete and we want to win. Especially when you have a staff like this that's doing it the right way, building young men. That's very important."

Sports on 12/19/2014