University of Arkansas hires University of Houston AD for same job (Updated)

Editor’s note: This story is updated with confirmation from the University of Arkansas of the new hire.
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The University of Arkansas has announced it will hire Hunter Yurachek as its new athletics director. The announcement followed several media reports that Yurachek had been hired.

Yurachek has been the University of Houston’s athletics director for nearly three years. He joined the department as associate vice president and chief operating officer in February 2014 and was promoted to AD in April 2015. In that position he earned $450,000 a year according to the Chronicle report.

Yurachek, a native of Richmond, Va., will become just the third athletics director at the UA in the last four decades, following Frank Broyles (1973-2007) and Jeff Long (2008-2017), who was fired on Nov. 15. Julie Cromer Peoples, a senior associate athletics director at the UA, has been filling the position on an interim basis.

UA Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz said Hog fans will grow to like Yurachek.

“I am thrilled to welcome Hunter to the Razorback family,” Steinmetz said in a statement. “He possesses the experience, the management skills and the passion to have an immediate impact on our university. I know that as Razorbacks around our state and country get to know him, they will know that we are in good hands. We welcome Hunter, Jennifer and their children to Arkansas.”

Yurachek’s first priority will be to hire a new head football coach. Yurachek has agreed to a five-year contract worth $850,000 a year.

“The opportunity to serve the Razorback program is both humbling and exciting,” said Yurachek.  “There is so much already in place, and we will quickly build on that foundation to win championships. We will do so with integrity and while continuing to be a great source of pride for the entire state of Arkansas.  I want to thank Chancellor Steinmetz and those involved with the search process. Jennifer, myself and our family cannot wait to join the Arkansas Razorback family.”

Yurachek also served as athletics director at Coastal Carolina University for four years before being hired by Houston in February 2014 He’s also held various athletics administration leadership positions at the University of Akron, University of Virginia, Western Carolina University, Vanderbilt University and Wake Forest University.

At Houston, he oversees a department comprising of 17 varsity sports programs, 425 student-athletes, 175 employees and a $45 million operational budget.