Former Towson Wide Receivers Coach Takes Over Arkansas Room

Derek Kief assumes wide receivers coach role in his first season at Arkansas

Author:
Daniel Shi
Publish date:
Oct 23, 2023 5:47 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It just didn't work. After eight games at the helm, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman opened up about moving on from offensive coordinator Dan Enos.

"This is not a move for any other reason than it just wasn't working," Pittman said. "It's not a move to can the season. We've got a really good defense. If our offense can go out and function and function well, we still have games we can win ... I can't really put a finger on it except it was just rough. Our kids weren't as motivated, and that can go on me as well."

As a result of former wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton taking over playcalling duties, senior quality control for the offense Derek Kief will fill the vacancy as wide receivers coach. Kief spent the 2022 season as receivers coach at Towson before joining the Arkansas staff. He also worked under Enos in 2021 as a graduate assistant at Maryland in a historic season for the school's offense. The program set records for most passing yards (3,960) and yards of total offense (5,760) under Enos and Kief.

"Derek Kief will coach the wide receivers," Pittman said. "He was in that system at Alabama. So, that would be that."

Kief played in 51 games during the 2015-2018 seasons at Alabama, catching 11 passes while mainly being a factor on special teams as part of the 2016 and 2018 national championships. His promotion provides an injection of youth on an Arkansas coaching staff desperately needs a spark to get the offense going. Guiton is the offensive coordinator at 32, while Kief checks in at 28. Pittman insisted Enos’ lack of youth wasn't what was hampering offensive motivation.

"I know what you’re getting at," Pittman said. "I don’t think age has nothing to do with it. I think a guy is either a go-getting, encouraging-type guy at whatever age or I’ve seen some young guys that weren’t that are deadbeats out there, too. I get what you’re saying, and he (Guiton) has that personality, and I think it will resonate throughout the offense.

The new-look coaching staff will have until Nov. 4 to prepare for a road matchup against Florida in Gainsville. The game will kick off at 11 a.m. and will be broadcast on both ESPN2 and fuboTV.