It is being reported that former and now current Creighton basketball coach Dana Altman has taken his old job back.  This, of course, makes Altman to Arkansas what Belichick is to the Jets,  a former coach that never actually "coached" his former team.  There is certainly a major problem right now in the Arkansas athletic department.  They seem to be unable to keep big name coaches and players intrigued enough to stay with the program.  Despite many rumors and speculation as to why this seems to be the case, the real problem is a lack of reality by the athletic department.

The University believes that it should be a top 10 football and basketball program each and every year.  These are great goals, but when they become and expectation, they become a hinderance to a program that is farther away from Corey Beck and Corliss Williamson than it realizes.  Arkansas reportedly offered the basketball position to coaches like:  Bill Self, John Calipari, Billy Gillespie, Tim Floyd, and Tom Crean before agreeing with Altman (source: ESPN.com).  These are all relatively established coaches at programs that are currently as strong, if not significantly stronger than Arkansas right now.  Why should they take the Arkansas job?  Obviously, these men couldn't find a reason either, so Arkansas is still and again coachless. 

Arkansas needs to "get real".  They need a young, energetic coach that can take a team that is ready to win to the second weekend of the tournament.  Arkansas needs to take a chance of a "small-name".  The Hogs should look no further than their hated rivals in Austin.  The new Arkansas head coach should be Russ Springman, assistant coach of the Texas Longhorns.

Springman has been working with Rick Barnes for nine years as an assitant coach.  He also worked with Billy Donovan at Florida for two seasons as a strength coach.  Springman has been exposed to two extremely successful systems of both recruiting and on-court production.  Kevin Durant keeps raving about Springman, and the role Russ has played in his personal success.  Springman has the exposure to big-time games and players to lead a program in the right direction.  On the down side, Springman has never been a Division I head basketball coach, but Arkansas is ready to win now.  This is the time to take a chance, and build a program behind someone the players can believe in.  Arkansas is hungry to recapture past glory.  Springman is hungry to prove himself worthy to be considered among his mentors as a great head coach.  This is the move the could lead both man and program to where they want to go.

(source: TexasSports.com)