Arkansas AD: Smith won't return as coach

By KURT VOIGT
AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas interim football coach John L. Smith will not return next season, the school's athletic director said Saturday.

Jeff Long says in a statement released by the university that he met with Smith on Saturday morning, a day after the Razorbacks' season-ending 20-13 loss to LSU, and told him the school "would be making a change in leadership within our program."

Smith was hired in April to replace the fired Bobby Petrino and signed to a 10-month contract. Long says that once a new coach is hired Smith will be reassigned as a consultant through the end of his deal on Feb. 23, 2013.

Arkansas (4-8, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) began the season ranked in the top 10 but quickly fell out of the polls after a stunning loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 8.

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