FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -Embattled Arkansas coach Houston Nutt resigned Monday, giving up his job three days after directing the Razorbacks to a victory over top-ranked LSU. Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring will coach the team in its bowl.
Nutt told Chancellor John A. White that he wanted to close a chapter in his life.
“Houston’s decision to resign was neither forced, or encouraged, or requested,” White said.
Nutt said he was hopeful his departure would unify the state, which had been torn with turmoil surrounding the football program.
“Deep, deep down in my heart as an Arkansan, as person who loves the Razorbacks so much, (I wanted) for the state to come together as one,” Nutt said. “At this time, I didn’t think we could have one heartbeat.”
Rumors of Nutt’s departure surrounded the program after the loss last winter of key recruits and a popular assistant coach. Trouble mounted for the coach after the Razorbacks lost their first three Southeastern Conference games after a turmoil-filled offseason.
Arkansas rebounded to finish the regular season 8-4 and knocked LSU out of the nation’s No. 1 spot with a 50-48, triple-overtime victory over the Tigers on Friday.
Two weeks ago, the university strongly denied reports this would be Nutt’s last season as Arkansas’ coach. On Sunday, Nutt said White and outgoing athletic director Frank Broyles wanted him to return, but he said more talks with the university were forthcoming.
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