DERRICK GRAGG

KNWA is reporting that Derrick Gragg, currently athletic director at Tulsa, has been tapped to be the next athletic director at the University of Arkansas, succeeding the fired Jeff Long.

UPDATE: As yet, nothing from university and others are saying no decision is expected this week. UA says they are still in “vetting” process

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If Gragg is the pick, it means there will be an athletic director in place when a decision is made, perhaps soon, on a new Razorback football coach. In addition to former Hog assistant Gus Malzahn, now riding high at Auburn, speculation on that job includes coaches at Memphis and Clemson.

Gragg is currently in his fifth season at Tulsa. He worked under Frank Broyles from 2000-06, rising to deputy athletic director.  He was A.D. at Eastern Michigan previously. From his Tulsa biography:

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In October 2015, Gragg released his first book titled “40 Days of Direction: Life Lessons from the Talented Ten”, which shares life experiences as a collegiate athlete [Vanderbilt football] in hopes to provide a blueprint for today’s student-athlete.

A former collegiate wide receiver, Gragg lettered four years at Vanderbilt while earning his bachelor’s degree in human development in 1992. He earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State University in 1999. Gragg received his doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas in May of 2004 and also taught over a dozen college courses during his tenure there as an athletic administrator.

A native of Huntsville, Ala., Gragg was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County (Ala.) Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. He is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Hat tip to reformed sportswriter Scott Faldon of Fort Smith who tabbed Gragg for this job last week. Even if it turns out to be wrong.

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