What Arkansas needs in a general manager

By Jerry Meadows

FAYETTEVILLE — Last year, hiring a general manager for the football program was brought up several times. So far, no announcement has yet to surface.

Coach Sam Pittman was asked: “What are you looking for in a general manager?

PITTMAN: “Well, I want somebody that’s done it. So you have to go to the NFL, NBA, whatever, to find somebody like that. You want someone who’s kind of done that before, whether it be the top dog or the second, you know, somebody that understands that.”

With this statement in mind, what should be the criteria for the man/woman Arkansas needs to be their new general manager?

#1. Experience – Experience in understanding what it takes to do the job is a given, but if Arkansas wants to succeed, could they need more than just experience? A few years ago, the basketball program needed a new coach. They went to Creighton and hired Dana Altman. As he came to the stage, he looked like a deer staring in the headlights. Then, when the crowd began to call the Hogs, he was clueless. Coach Altman was qualified to be the new Arkansas coach. He had experience, and he had a successful track record. But, he was not the man to lead the Razorbacks.

#2. Home Grown – The person hired needs to understand the tradition, the history, and the passion it takes to be a Razorback. They need to be all-in when it comes to promoting the Razorback program. This quality would indicate that deep Arkansas ties would be advantageous for a person to be the GM of the Razorback Football program. The perfect fit would begin with a candidate with experience and a knowledge of Razorback history.

#3. A Recruiter - Every team needs a GM who understands the recruiting process. A recruiter needs to be a communicator. After all, he is trying to convince a young man to bring his talents to the University of Arkansas. A good recruiter will recognize when they have found what they are looking for.

PITTMAN: “So, we need somebody up on the rules, we need somebody that’s a good talker, a good recruiter. We need a guy that’s a good evaluator, because we obviously have corners, and we’ll go, ‘OK, this is 1, this is 2, this is 3, this is 4.’ And you don’t go, ‘This is one can get one.’ No, I don’t want the ones we can, I want, ‘This is the No. 1 guy we think we that we’re talking to…No. 2, No. 3.’ I don’t care. We’ll figure out if we can get them or not.”

#4. A Salesman/Promoter – A GM has a product to promote, the Razorback program. He/she will be actively involved in the recruiting process. Arkansas needs someone who can sell ice cream in Iceland. It may be a person with an infectious personality or someone who has the power of persuasion to convince the right people to become a Razorback.

#5. A Negotiator – Being a GM means having the wherewithal to close the deal. Such efforts require honesty when it comes to promises made. Dealing with agents can be a pain, and a good negotiator must keep their emotions out of the process. A good negotiator never lays all their cards on the table during negotiations.

PITTMAN: “I mean, we need a negotiator. To be honest with you, I need someone that takes the, ‘Well, Coach Pittman won’t give it to me. Coach Pittman won’t give it to me.’ I need that taken off my plate.”

The right negotiator will make the head coach’s job less stressful.

#6. An Advocate – Although the GM will be measured by what they accomplish, they must remember who they work for and those they represent. A GM is first an ambassador of the University and the football program. They must have a handle on the market value of the players available and the rules that govern both them and the university. Working outside of the rules is a recipe for disaster.

#7. An Organizer – A GM should know all the personnel needs associated with the football team. That means he should have a list of positions and players from high school and the portal that fits what the coaches are looking for. They will oversee a staff that will provide all the information they need in preparation for high school and junior college recruiting. Designing a successful introduction to the Razorback football program should be a top priority. Making a great first impression is vital to compete with the SEC. The GM would need in-depth knowledge of the portal and a plan to secure the top athletes available. Building a championship environment should be the goal of a GM.

#8. A Visionary - Great GMs have a knack for seeing what others overlook. Each year, players arrive with the intangibles you don’t see on film. Leadership, having a winner’s mentality, mental toughness, a love for the game that exceeds the size of their body, and those who play better under pressure. QB Diego Pavia for Vanderbilt is a good example of a player with intangibles. Most colleges said he was too small to play QB.

#9. Championship Mentality – The time must end when being competitive is the goal for the next season. Razorback fans want to win, and it is the GM’s responsibility to help the Head Coach accomplish the goal of winning a national championship by finding the right players to be successful.

Spring practice begins this Monday, and Arkansas and Coach Pittman are running out of time to secure a GM. Hopefully, Hunter Yurachek and Coach Pittman will soon find the person who will fit the Razorback Program. The only thing worse is hiring another Dana Altman.