Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15
Wichita Coach
Succeeds Wyatt
Al Arkansas
Selection Of Mitchell
indicates Return to
SpIit-T for Porkers
sy IN. Associated Pres,

~ 49,
FAYETTEVILLE. Ark. Jan.
rs. - The Arkansas Razorbacks
have hired Wichita University's
Jack Mitchell as football coach.
just one week to the day after
Bowden Wyatt resigned.
Mitchell. q split-T coach, re-
ceived q five-year appointment
and his salary repeatedly win be
$12,500 q year.
Wichita,s Board Of Regents
promptly named Pete Tillman.
Mitchell's chief aide, as Shocker
head coach to succeed Mitchell.
Mitchell. 30-year-old former
Oklahoma University star quar-
terback. broke a l0-year contract
with Wichita after two seasons
to take the Arkansas job. Wyatt.
who was an exponent of the
single wing. broke five-year
Arkansas contract after two
years to move to his alma mater
the University Of Tennessee, as
head football coach and assistant
athletic director.
First Trip to Arkansas.
Arkansas officials met with
Mitchell ct Fayetteville yester-
day.
Mitchell. who returned to
Wichita early today. told news
men:
II received q call from John
Barnhili ARKANSAS athletic die
rector Thursday night and left
to confer with him. 1t was my
first trip there, although ] had
previous contact by long dis
lance"
That was the extent Of
Mitchell's explanation Of his
switch. He would not reveal
whether the decision was a sud-
den one, but did say that he
felt Bud wilkinson. Oklahoma
coach. had been an important
factor in his selection.
He added: MY personal rea-
sons are Of little importance. The
important fact is that Tillman
is an excellent man. Wichita
University has as fine athletic
facilities as there are In the
country. It's future in sports is
In good hands"
Due to Bring Two Aides.
Mitchell's appointment was
approved formally by the uni
versity's board OF trustees at a
meeting in Little. Rock this
morning. Ia
Mitchell repeatedly will bring
two assistants with him. Bob
Cheyne, Arkansas athletic pub
licity director, identified the as
sistants as George Bernhardt,
former Illinois halfhack, and
Dick Monroe. who played with
the University Of Kansas.
The appointment of MitcheN
probably means the Razorbacks
win have to dust of their split-T
techniques.
Switching from the split-T to
Wyatt's single wing formation
two years ago. the Porkers won
the Southwest Conference foot
bali crown last season. They lost
to Georgia Tech in the Cotton
Bowl, 1876.
Mitchells split T Shockers
won the Missouri Valley Confer
ence championship with a 9-1
record last year. The year before,
in his first season at Wichita.
Mitchell's team compiled q 4-4-1
mark.
Native Of Kansas.
As q player. Mitchell quarter
backed the split-T Oklahoma
Sooners in l946-48. Before going
to Wichita as head coach, he
coached at Blackwell (Okla.)
High School and was assistant
coach at Tulsa University and
Texas Tech, each for two years.
He is q native Of Arkansas City.
Karls,
First word that Mitchell would
be Wyatt's successor came from
Wichita University yesterday.
Harry r. Corbin, Wichita presi-
dent, announced that Mitchell
had quit to take the Arkansas
job and promptly announced
the appointment of Tillman.
Corbin expressed surprise and
thorough disappointment when
he learned Of Mitchell's resigna-
ton. However. the Wichita pres
ident said he wished Mitchell
land his lovely wife and family
the best Of luck at Arkansas"