Technically, Jeff Long is not the University of Arkansas’ athletic director. Frank Broyles still is.

But Long will be in charge of hiring the Razorbacks ’ new football coach after Houston Nutt announced he was stepping down Monday after ten years at the helm of the school’s most high-profile sports program.

Long, who will take over the athletic department Jan. 1, will be the point man for the search and will report to UA Chancellor John A. White.

“ Given the high profile position, I’ve asked Jeff to handle it in much the same way as I handled the search that brought him to the University of Arkansas, ” White said. “ We’re looking for someone who can build on the solid foundation that Coach Nutt had provided and will be able to sustain us at a competitive level in the SEC but take us to an even higher level. I will be relying on Jeff Long to make many of those judgments. ”

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While Nutt was delivering his final farewell speech Monday, Long listened and watched with the current football players seated next to him. Then he quickly slipped out the back door of the Raymond Miller room inside the Broyles Athletic Complex without saying a word.

No candidates for the position were mentioned by either Broyles or White, who said their support is behind Reggie Herring, Arkansas’ defensive coordinator who was named interim coach for the Razorbacks’ upcoming bowl game.

But Internet Web sites and newspapers have suggested Arkansas’ vacant position could be filled by Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, TCU coach Gary Patterson, North Carolina coach Butch Davis, Tulsa offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, Boise State coach Chris Petersen, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables and LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pellini.

“ He’s going to take the time necessary to secure the very best coach we can bring into the University of Arkansas, ” White said.

Jim Lindsey, a member of the UA System Board of Trustees who was on the committee that hired Nutt 10 years ago, refused to speculate on possible replacements.

“ That’s Chancellor White’s and the institution’s role, ” Lindsey said. “ I am just real sad about this matter. ”

As the athletic department underwent a major makeover this year with the retirement of Broyles and the firing of former basketball coach Stan Heath, Parker Executive Search in Atlanta provided guidance to the university as it worked to find their replacements.

In both cases, the hiring firm suggested candidates and the process remained confidential. Eventually, John Pelphrey was appointed the new basketball coach last April and Long, who is also the vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics, was named as Broyles’ successor in August.

White said Long will determine if Parker Executive Search will be involved in pinpointing Nutt’s replacement.

“ I will leave it to him to make a decision about what assistance he might want if he does that, ” White said.

Although the three players in attendance at Monday’s announcement — junior running back Darren McFadden, senior linebacker Weston Dacus and junior center Jonathan Luigs — were still coming to grips with Nutt’s decision, they were asked to discuss the uncertain future of the football program. Luigs said the university would be best served hiring a coach that exhibited the qualities Nutt demonstrated during his 10 years in Fayetteville.

“ It’s hard to lose him, ” Luigs said. “ Any guy who can resemble Coach Nutt and the way he carries himself on and off the field and the way he cares is about his players, I think he will hear from the university. ”