Arkansas football loses assistant to struggling Big Ten program after short stay

The Arkansas Razorbacks football are once again searching for stability on their offensive staff after losing quarterbacks coach Clint Trickett to the Maryland Terrapins football.

According to college football analyst Pete Nakos, Maryland is set to hire Trickett as its new offensive coordinator. Current Terrapins OC Pep Hamilton will shift into an advisory role, clearing the way for Trickett to take over play-calling duties in College Park.

Arkansas' QB Coach Clint Trickett is Off to Maryland

Arkansas hired Trickett on Dec. 19 after he spent the 2025 season as offensive coordinator at Jacksonville State Gamecocks football. His stint in Fayetteville lasted barely two months before he accepted the opportunity at Maryland.

It’s a tough break for the Razorbacks, who brought Trickett in to help elevate the quarterback room that was full of question marks and Ryan Silverfield had high hopes for Trickett's addition to the staff. Instead, his time on staff will go down as one of the shortest in recent memory.

The Terrapins struggled to a 4–8 finish last season, and head coach Mike Locksley is widely viewed as being on the hot seat. A change on offense was necessary, and bringing in a young, ascending play-caller like Trickett signals urgency.

Maryland is hoping Trickett can unlock the potential of former star true freshman quarterback Malik Washington Jr., now entering his sophomore season. With the program needing an offensive spark in the Big Ten, handing Trickett full control of the offense was likely far more enticing than remaining a position coach in the SEC.

Before arriving at Arkansas, Trickett orchestrated one of the most productive offenses in Conference USA at Jacksonville State. Under his direction, the Gamecocks ranked second in C-USA in total offense (408.7 yards per game) and fourth in scoring (28.1 points per game).

His coaching journey has been anything but conventional. Trickett worked at East Mississippi Community College in 2015 as quarterbacks coach, a program widely known for its feature on the Netflix series Last Chance U. From there, he bounced around various stops, working alongside notable coaches before eventually landing at Arkansas following his breakout season at Jacksonville State.

Now, he gets his opportunity to call plays at a Big Ten program, a significant step up in responsibility and visibility.

For Arkansas, the departure creates unexpected turnover in the quarterback room just as the Razorbacks were looking to build continuity. Losing a coach so soon after hiring him is never ideal, especially at such a pivotal position.

Still, the move makes sense from Trickett’s perspective. Becoming an offensive coordinator in the Big Ten is a major career advancement compared to serving as a quarterbacks coach, even in the SEC.

It was a short-lived run in Fayetteville for the former "Last Chance U" assistant. Razorback fans can only hope he didn’t get too comfortable, or buy a house, before heading to College Park.