After all the news and initial reaction to the firing of Jeff Long, now comes the speculation of his replacement. A search for a new AD isn’t the public spectacle a coaching search usually is so there really isn’t as much to go on. Here are some names that could be worth keeping an eye on in the near future.
Derrick Gragg - Tulsa AD
Currently in his fifth year at Tulsa, Gragg has led Tulsa into the AAC and has made the jump pretty well. The football team is struggling this year but had 10 wins in 2016. He’s also responsible for hiring Frank Haith who has taken the Golden Hurricane to three straight postseason appearances. His connections to Arkansas might make him a favorite. Gragg worked in Fayetteville from 2000-2006 and went from Associate AD to Senior Associate AD under Frank Broyles.
Hunter Yurachek - Houston AD
Yurachek replaced Mack Rhoades in 2015 but has been with the department since 2014. He played a role in fundraising for Houston’s new basketball arena, indoor football facility, and helped secure the naming rights for TEDCU Stadium. He was also listed as a candidate for the recently filled Arizona AD job so he could be looking for bigger and better things.
Mike Vaught - Grand Canyon AD
This is definitely a look way out at left field, but Vaught was born in Mena, went to Arkansas Tech and was a grad assistant with the Arkansas football team in the 80’s. As Deputy Athletic Director at SMU, he helped bring in June Jones and Larry Brown. He got his first AD job at Grand Canyon, a school who has made a rapid jump to the D1 level. He’s got a history in multiple sports of making big name hires.
Shayne Lyons - West Virginia AD
Lyons is in year three at West Virginia, where they have recently had some major renovations to the football and basketball stadiums. Before West Virginia, was the deputy director of athletics at Alabama, overseeing financial operations there. He also has stops at the ACC, Texas Tech, and Big South conference.
Danny White - UCF AD
Currently the UCF AD, White is overseeing a football program that has things rolling right now with Scott Frost. Before that he was the AD at Buffalo where his most notable accomplishment was hiring Bobby Hurley who took the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament before leaving for Arizona State. White’s got some SEC ties, formerly working at Ole Miss and his brother is Florida basketball coach Mike White. His father, Kevin White, is also the AD at Duke currently.