From 'Likely Targets' to 'Dream Scenarios', 12 coaches the Hogs should pursue

Arkansas football: Dream Scenario

Rhett Lashlee—SMU head coach
Curt Cignetti—Indiana head coach
Nick Saban—The GOAT/former Alabama head coach
Jon Gruden—Never a head coach at the collegiate level/head coach in the NFL between 1998 and 2008, 2018-2021.

Now, here we are—the creme de la creme—Arkansas' dream scenario coaches.

Like Dillingham, Lashlee could likely be considered a "High Pick" option, but with his ties to Arkansas, and his with his current employer being one of the richest programs in the country, it'll be hard to make the hire. Hard, but not impossible. Apparently, he's already been 'working behind the scenes' to take the job from Pittman, if you believe Paul Finebaum.

Still, his resume speaks for itself. He's led the Mustangs to a 31-14 record, winning an AAC championship in 2023 and competing for an ACC championship in 2024. He also took SMU to the CFP in the team's first season in the ACC. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's a former Arkansas Razorback and a native of the Natural State. However, after Lashlee, the next three candidates get pretty wild.

Two years ago, you likely didn't even know his name. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti virtually came out of nowhere. He had coached at IUP, Elon, and James Maddison before taking over the Hoosiers' program. When Indiana made the hire, it wasn't a huge new story, but in his first season, he led Indiana to the CFP and is currently 5-0 in 2025. Since becoming a coach, he's accumulated an outstanding 135-37 record.

The thing about him is that he pretty much has the keys to the Hoosiers' castle and is already 64 years old. It's unlikely any amount of money will persuade him to turncoat to Arkansas. But hey, wilder things have happened.

Then, of course, there's the GOAT.

Could Nick Saban dethrone John Calipari as the most shocking Arkansas hire in history? It's unlikely, but his former quarterback, Greg McElroy, did suggest the retired Alabama head coach is looking to get back in the game.

However, right now, he's got a pretty sweet gig as a panelist on the fan-favorite College GameDay show. It'll take an amazing offer—one that Yuracheck and the BOT are likely unwilling to hand out—to pull Saban back into the SEC.

Finally, there's one that's been on the Arkansas faithful's wishlist since Petrino was fired. That's Jon Gruden.

Gruden has never been a head coach at the collegiate level, but he did have success in the NFL. The current Barstool Sports employee won a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. What's more is that Gruden did say he wanted to coach in the SEC back in August. There are even rumors that he wants former national championship head coach Ed Orgeron to join him as an offensive coordinator.

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