Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield is leaving for the same job at Arkansas, according to multiple reports on Nov. 30.
Silverfield has been Memphis’ coach since 2019, when he took over for the departing Mike Norvell. He’s gone 50-24 during his time with the Tigers, which started with the Cotton Bowl in 2019.
Under Silverfield, Memphis went to a bowl game every season and won every game (the Hawaii Bowl in 2021 was not played after the Rainbow Warriors couldn’t field a team). But the Tigers did not reach the American Conference title game during any season of Silverfield’s reign.
The Tigers have been positioned as one of the top teams in the Group of Five for years. Memphis finished the regular season 8-4 this season and will play in a bowl game.
Fans have grown restless as the Tigers’ gap between American Conference title game appearances has grown, and the next coach will be tasked with finding a way to get the Tigers back there.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
