Arkansas fires Bielema moments after Missouri loss

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has fired coach Bret Bielema after five disappointing seasons, moments after a seasonending 48-45 loss to Missouri on Friday.

The loss left Arkansas with a 4-8 record, capping only the second losing season of Bielema’s 12- year career.

It also left him with a 29- 34 record in his five seasons with the Razorbacks, including 11- 29 in the SEC.

It was a shockingly poor performance from a coach who led Wisconsin to three Rose Bowl appearances before being hired at Arkansas from Wisconsin after the 2012 season.

Interim athletic director Julie Cromer Peoples informed Bielema of his firing before the coach held his postgame news conference.

Cromer Peoples is serving in an interim role after former athletic director Jeff Long was fired two weeks ago.

“During the course of the past five seasons, we have not been able to sustain the success on the field that is expected and required at the University of Arkansas,” Peoples said. “... We are grateful for his contributions to our program and most importantly his investment in the lives of our student- athletes. We wish him the very best both personally and professionally.”

Bielema was signed with Arkansas through the 2020 season, thanks to an extension he signed following his second season in 2014 when the Razorbacks improved to 7- 6 after a 3- 9 record in his first year.

His average annual salary over the six- year contract was $ 4.25 million, and the deal contained a buyout clause that stated Arkansas would have to pay Bielema $ 15.4 million if he was fired without cause prior to 2018. The buyout dropped to $ 11.7 million to start 2018, and it was immediately unclear if the school would be forced to pay the full $ 15.4 million, or if the two sides reached a settlement for a lesser amount.