FAYETTEVILLE — Two-time University of Arkansas football assistant coach Steve Caldwell is not expected to be retained on Coach Sam Pittman’s first coaching staff, a source with knowledge of Caldwell’s status said on Saturday.
Pittman has made two formal hires, defensive coordinator Barry Odom and offensive line coach Brad Davis, both ex-Missouri coaches, and receivers coach Justin Stepp has carried over from the previous staff.
Caldwell was defensive line coach at Arkansas from 2010-12, when the Razorbacks went 25-13 and played in the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl. He served as defensive ends coach the last two seasons, with the Razorbacks going 4-20.
Caldwell, Stepp and defensive backs coach Ron Cooper have assisted in recruiting since Pittman was announced as head coach last Sunday. Cooper appeared in Walton Arena on Saturday hosting recruits at the basketball team’s 98-79 win over Tulsa along with Pittman, Odom, Davis and Stepp. Cooper’s status as a potential carryover coach has not been determined.
Coordinators John Chavis and Joe Craddock, interim Coach Barry Lunney, who had been tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, running backs coach Mark Traylor and defensive backs coach Mark Smith will not make the transition to Pittman. Traylor has been announced as Texas-San Antonio’s head coach and Lunney, who sources say had a strong interview for the full-time position with Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek, will be offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Roadrunners.