April 23, 2012
Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long hired John L. Smith on a 10-month contract two weeks after firing Coach Bobby Petrino with cause following his motorcycle wreck with his mistress aboard.
Smith, 63, who had departed Petrino’s staff to become head coach at his alma mater Weber State in December 2011, agreed on a contract that would pay him $850,000 for the season. Smith also agreed to keep all members of the coaching staff, the strength coaches and support staff in their current positions through his 10-month term.
"In the last couple of weeks, I came to the realization I could provide guidance and stability to a program I'm extremely invested in," Smith said in a release announcing his hiring.
Some Arkansas players had lobbied for Smith to return. Several voiced their pleasure with Long's choice. Then-running back Knile Davis wrote on Twitter that it was "the happiest day of my life" when Smith was announced.
Smith's season back at Arkansas was not so well received. The Razorbacks started the year ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and moved to No. 8 after the first weekend, but ended September on a four-game losing streak that included losses by 48 points at Texas A&M and 52 points against Alabama, as well as an overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe in Little Rock when Arkansas led by 21 points in the third quarter.
Arkansas fell out of the AP poll following the ULM loss, the second-biggest drop ever for a ranked team.
The Razorbacks tumbled to a 4-8 record in Smith’s lone season as interim coach. Additionally, Smith’s financial issues, which included filing for bankruptcy, come to light, adding to the chaotic season.
The day after Arkansas' season-ending loss to LSU, Long exercised a clause in Smith's contract that allowed him to be reassigned within the athletics department. Long hired Bret Bielema as the Razorbacks' full-time football coach in early December.
Since leaving Arkansas, Smith has coached three seasons at both Fort Lewis (Colo.) College, an NCAA Division II program, and Kentucky State, a Football Championship Subdivision program, with a combined record of 21-43.
Matt Jones contributed