FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has accepted the same position at Pittsburgh, according to multiple reports.
Sports Illustrated first reported the move. An Arkansas team spokesperson couldn't confirm the report Sunday and no official announcement had been made by Pittsburgh.
Chaney, who was also the Razorbacks' quarterbacks coach, would be the second Arkansas assistant to leave since the Razorbacks' Texas Bowl win last month. Former UA linebackers coach Randy Shannon accepted a similar position at Florida last week.
Chaney would owe the University of Arkansas $100,000 to terminate his contract, which runs through June 2016.
Chaney was Arkansas' highest-paid assistant coach during the 2014 season with an annual salary of $550,000. UA head coach Bret Bielema said last week that new contracts were being finalized for three assistant coaches, including Chaney.
Five other assistant coaches received pay raises following the season.
The Razorbacks ranked eighth in the Southeastern Conference in total offense in 2014, averaging 410.6 yards per game. Arkansas ranked seventh in scoring at 32 points per game.
In Chaney's first season as the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator, Arkansas ranked 11th in the SEC in total offense and 12th in scoring offense.
Prior to Arkansas, Chaney gained notoriety as a coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Purdue, where he worked with future NFL starters Drew Brees and Kyle Orton. Chaney was coordinator at Tennessee the four seasons prior to his stint in Fayetteville.
Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen made strides in his two seasons working with Chaney. After throwing 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during an injury-filled sophomore season, Allen threw 20 touchdowns and five interceptions as a junior.
Despite the improvement, Arkansas' offense still struggled for much of the conference season, particularly late in games. The Razorbacks failed to score in the fourth quarter in five of their SEC games, blowing fourth quarter leads against Texas A&M, Alabama and Missouri.
If Chaney doesn't return for the 2015 season, Allen and the Arkansas offense will be learning from the fourth coordinator in five years.