Jimmy Dykes Is New Razorback Women’s Basketball Coach

Jimmy Dykes, an ESPN basketball analyst, has been named the new head women’s basketball coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks today.

Jeff Long took to Twitter to make the news official, saying, “Please join me in welcoming our new Head Women’s Basketball Coach @JimmyDykesLive tonight at 6:30 Bud Walton Arena!”

Long went on to say in an official release on the hire:

“After meeting with him and discussing our program, it was clear to me that Jimmy Dykes is not only the best leader for our women’s basketball program, but also the best Coach for the student-athletes in our program,” Long said.  “I have known Jimmy for many years but learned of his passion and commitment to his alma mater, the University of Arkansas, when I arrived on campus. I have always respected his tremendous basketball knowledge and his understanding of the game, but as I got to know Jimmy better, l became aware of his strong coaching background including his tenures at some of the nation’s top college basketball programs. Jimmy’s coaching pedigree working with some of the best coaches in the business, combined with his ability to teach the game of basketball, made him the clear choice as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas.”

Details of Dykes’ salary are beginning to surface. The Associated Press’ Kurt Voigt reports, the new coach will make $450,000 annually. $250,000 in salary and another $200,000 for appearances and media engagements. Voigt adds, “Worth noting former UA coach Tom Collen made $415,691 annually and will be paid $250,000 for each of the next two seasons, per his buyout.”

And Dykes had a message of his own via Twitter:

Dykes would replace Tom Collen, who was fired in early March.

Dykes’ bio at ESPN:

Jimmy Dykes joined ESPN at the start of the 1995-96 men’s college basketball season as a game and studio analyst. He now primarily calls the SEC Super Tuesday games, ABC’s coverage of the SEC Tournament in March and has a major presence across the country in several early-season tournaments such as the Maui Invitational, the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the SEC/BIG EAST Challenge. During regular-season action, Dykes also provides weekly analysis from the ESPN and ESPNU studios.

Also, he has been an analyst for the NCAA Women’s Championship, and served as a college football sideline reporter from 2004-08. Over the past 15 years, he has been a part of such events as the WNBA Playoffs, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest and ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games.

Dykes was a three-year letterman for the University of Arkansas and went on to become an assistant coach at Arkansas, Sacramento State University, Appalachian State University, University of Kentucky, University of Arkansas-Little Rock and Oklahoma State from 1985-1991. He then served two seasons as a college scout for the Seattle Sonics of the NBA.

A native of Tulsa, Okla., Dykes was a standout multi-sport athlete Estes Park (Colo.) High School and Fayetteville (Ark.) High School. He was named to People Magazine’s “America’s Top 50 Bachelors” list in 2001. He is a 1985 graduate from Arkansas, where he received a bachelor’s degree in speech education.

During the college basketball offseason, Dykes is a popular motivational speaker, who regularly addresses organizations, companies and church groups across the country.

Here is Razorback head football coach, Bret Bielema’s message to Dykes: