In a recent off the record conversation while both were the top candidates to become Arkansas’ next head men’s track coach, Razorback field events coach Dick Booth referred to Northern Iowa head coach Chris Bucknam as “ a good coach and a good man. ”

Good Booth feels that way. Good it seems reciprocated.

Because now they are together at Arkansas with Bucknam as head coach and assistant coach Booth continuing as field events coach.

At a Friday press conference, Arkansas director of athletics Jeff Long announced Bucknam’s hiring to replace retiring Arkansas icon John McDonnell, the Razorbacks ’ head cross country coach since 1972 and head track coach since 1977 with 42 national championships and 84 conference championships, both the most ever in all of NCAA athletics.

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While McDonnell and new UA Chancellor Dave Gearhart looked on, Bucknam, 51, with 35 conference championships in 25 years coaching the Northern Iowa Panthers, was named head coach. And then Booth, 64, was announced to continue the job he had done for 26 Arkansas seasons that included the Razorbacks winning 45 individual NCAA championships in field events including seniorto-be triple jumper Nkosinza Balumbu.

Having recommended both to Long, Booth as his first choice and Bucknam as a candidate among those sought outside the program, McDonnell said it will be “ a good fit. ”

“ I recommended Dick for the job, ” McDonnell said, “ but I think this is a good choice. Dick and Chris are good friends. It will fit like a glove. Jeff Long asked me for some names and he (Bucknam ) was the first guy I threw in there. He’s a distance coach so with him there doesn’t need to be many changes. Just replace me. ”

McDonnell said he believes sprints coach Kyle White will get consideration by Bucknam to remain on staff.

Bucknam, with a UNI staff that might have assistants contending for the now vacant job there, was noncommittal Friday on his staff beyond Booth.

Booth, White and Razorback administrative assistant Danny Green have all been in Eugene, Ore. since Wednesday for the U. S. Olympic Trials.

Bucknam, the men’s coach at UNI since 1984 and the UNI women’s head coach since 1997, takes over an Arkansas men’s program that just won the SEC Cross Country-Indoor-Outdoor triple crown.

Meanwhile, Bucknam’s Panthers won the Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country-Indoor-Outdoor triple crowns and actually finished ahead of the Razorbacks, 11 th to 17 th, at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines.

Placing ahead of McDonnell hasn’t happened often to Bucknam or many other coaches during McDonnell’s legendary era.

“ I’m a brave guy aren’t I, ” Bucknam quipped of stepping into McDonnell’s shoes. “ I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the Razorback track program and follow the legendary John McDonnell. I’m also pleased that Dick Booth has agreed to remain as an assistant coach. ”

Bucknam was asked about working with Booth after they contended for the same job.

“ I have been a candidate for some and haven’t got it, ” Bucknam said. “ I know how he feels. All I can tell you is that I think I am a pretty good guy to work with. I am going to count on him a lot to help me through these next few months and this next year. I am thrilled that he wanted to stay on board. He’s a phenomenal coach. World class. ”

Booth, contacted Friday in Eugene, Ore., and Bucknam said they have become well acquainted, especially during UNI’s annual visit to the McDonnell Outdoor Invitational meet.

“ The finality of it is kind of a shock, ” Booth said of not getting the job offered Thursday to Bucknam, “ but it is what it is. Life goes 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, he is the best one. I think he’s a very good coach and I think he would be good to work with. ”

Booth said Bucknam’s big-time accomplishments at a smaller school deserve respect.

“ I know people say Northern What ? ” Booth said. “ 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. If I am going to work with somebody, I don’t know if it would be with anybody else. ”

Long said McDonnell cited Bucknam’s big-time work with “ limited resources” at UNI.

“ Chris Bucknam was certainly one of the people he recommended, ” Long said. “ He saw Chris compete at Northern Iowa without the national resources of a strong conference and compete extremely well and finish in the top 10, the top 15. ”

Long said the key to his final decision was Bucknam coaching distance runners, which McDonnell always has done.

“ For me, ” Long said, “ it was more of, what was the formula for success here at Arkansas ? To me it was someone experienced with distance running and then blending in what Dick did in the field events. That was the formula I saw. That formula was important to me. ”