Arkansas names Pelphrey basketball coach

South Alabama's John Pelphrey was hired as the basketball coach at Arkansas, a week after Creighton's Dana Altman took the job only to back out the following day.

"I'm not going anywhere, but I have heard the first day is the toughest," Pelphrey said at a news conference on the floor of Bud Walton Arena, where Altman was introduced a week earlier.

Chancellor John A. White said Pelphrey, a former player and assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference, was a better "fit" at Arkansas than Altman. White faulted himself for failing to recognize the difference and expects Pelphrey to stay.

"I don't plan on coming to a press conference next Monday," said White, who in his introduction made reference to Yogi Berra's remarks about it being "deja vu all over again" and to the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day."

Arkansas had been without a coach since Stan Heath was fired March 26.

Pelphrey grew up in the SEC, played for Kentucky under former Arkansas coach Eddie Sutton and was an assistant at Florida. White said Pelphrey's background was better suited than that of Altman, a Nebraskan who also coached at Marshall and Kansas State.

"The lesson I took away from last week is the importance of fit. By fit, I mean the culture of the school, the state and the conference," White said. "I realize after last week I had not considered 'fit' in the selection of a men's basketball coach."

"I think our guardian angel was looking out after us," White added.

Altman's startling reversal led Arkansas to enlist a search firm to help find a coach. Arkansas eyed Billy Gillispie, who later left Texas A&M to take over at Kentucky. The Razorbacks also received permission to talk to Memphis coach John Calipari.

The Razorbacks went 21-14 last season and made the NCAA tournament for the second straight year, but they lost in the first round both seasons. Heath was fired and took the South Florida job.

The 38-year-old Pelphrey went 80-67 in five seasons at South Alabama, including 44-19 the last two seasons. The Jaguars made the NCAA tournament in 2006.

Pelphrey's college playing career ended on one of the most memorable shots in NCAA tournament history. He was standing a few feet from Christian Laettner when the Duke star made his famous buzzer-beater against Kentucky in the 1992 round of eight. After that, Pelphrey became an assistant at Oklahoma State and Marshall before heading to Florida, where he was an assistant from 1996-02.

Heath was 82-71 in five seasons at Arkansas after leading Kent State to the final eight in the 2002 NCAA tournament. The Razorbacks were 43-24 over the last two years.