Arkansas women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors leaves team
Arkansas women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors has officially stepped down from the team after joining the program in 2017.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas announced on Tuesday, March 11 that Mike Neighbors will no longer be the head coach of the women’s basketball team.
In a press release Neighbors said, “As I shared in my introductory press conference on April 4, 2017, the opportunity to coach the Hogs fulfilled a lifelong dream. I also acknowledged that there would be a time when that dream would end… We leave with our heads high and enough memories to last a lifetime.”
Neighbors, who joined the Razorbacks in 2017, never won an NCAA Tournament game in his eight seasons at the helm. This season, the program finished with a 10-22 overall record and 3-14 in SEC play.
The Greenwood native compiled a 148-114 career record with the Razorbacks and is credited with resurrecting the program. Under his leadership, Arkansas had its best six-year stretch of sustained success with three 20+ win seasons and multiple postseason qualifications.
The Razorbacks’ 2022 NCAA Tournament appearance marked the first time since 2003 that the program had played in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments (2002 and 2003).
Despite that success, the past two years haven’t been as impressive. Last season Arkansas finished 18-15 overall and 6-10 in conference. This season was worse as the Hogs won 10 games, their fewest in program history.
Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek announced he’ll now begin a search for the next women’s head basketball coach.