Scotty Thurman is the lone assistant from former Arkansas coach Mike Anderson's coaching staff who has an opportunity to be retained by Eric Musselman, Razorbacks athletics director Hunter Yurachek said Thursday in an interview on the Ruscin & Zach radio show.
Thurman, a former All-SEC guard for the Razorbacks and an assistant coach for the past three seasons, was among several staff members in limbo after Anderson was fired on March 26. The day Musselman was introduced at Arkansas, Thurman said he would like to remain on staff.
"I'd definitely like to have an opportunity to stay," he said. "I've had opportunities to go other places - even as of late - but this is a place that's very, very close and dear to my heart, and I want to have an opportunity to get it back to the level that we're all accustomed to."
Musselman has not officially made any additions to his coaching staff since being hired April 7, however, Thurman has been "engaged in (team) workouts and recruiting" since Musselman arrived, Yurachek said.
"Coach Thurman and Coach Ruta" were mentioned by name by Musselman in a practice video posted to social media on Monday, the first day of team workouts. Anthony Ruta was an assistant coach for Musselman at Nevada.
"He’s been very meticulous in how he’s putting together his staff right now," Yurachek said of Musselman. "Scotty is the only coach right now that’s still a member of the staff. ... Whether that’s long term or short term, I think that’s up to how Coach Musselman and Scotty kind of get along and connect."
Yurachek said that former Anderson assistant coaches TJ Cleveland and Melvin Watkins have been let go.
It is unclear whether Matt Zimmerman will be retained on Musselman's staff. Zimmerman, a former assistant coach under Anderson at UAB, Missouri and Arkansas, has spent the past three years as the Razorbacks' director of basketball operations. He also is the color analyst for basketball radio broadcasts on Razorback Sports Network.