Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/1/2010 at 10:10pm

The University of Arkansas could soon have an expanded administrative staff for basketball.

A position tilted "Director of Student Athlete Development" is currently being advertised by the UA. After a review of the position description, it seems to be focused more on off-the-court matters than on-court play.

The Director of Student Athlete Development is charged with designing and implementing a "mentorship program with student athletes" and planning and executing "community support events" including Razorback Foundation and Razorback Club meetings.

Also, the job is aimed a directing and implementing "a program that will provide former men's basketball student athletes with a way to stay connected with the men's basketball program and Department of Athletics. This will include engaging former players in the mentorship program, with community events, and fan interaction."

Staying connected with former players (besides the '64 and '69 football teams) has been a focal point since Jeff Long took over as athletic director. Long has also been intent on growing athletes away from the court and playing field.

Both are commendable goals and progress could be made through a position like this. The position, at least to me, sounds like something that would be perfect for a former player, somebody that already has ties with the program.

Arkansas media relations director Kevin Trainor explained that the athletic department has not "had a position with that title previously."

It is a job that has been created from the administrative position Isaac Brown filled in the spring. While Brown's duties were not necessarily the ones outlined in the advertisement, the administrative position was planned for in the 2010-11 budget, Trainor said.

Brown, who was an on-court coach for three seasons before moving into administration, left to take a position on the Arkansas State coaching staff.

Arkansas is also currently looking for a video coordinator for men's basketball. Matt Siverling left the UA to take a position as the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Siverling is a native of Wisconsin.