Charlie Strong has directed Louisville to a 5-0 start and No. 16 ranking in the USA Today/Coaches poll. As one of the hottest names in coaching right now, Strong has been mentioned recently as a candidate to replace John L. Smith at Arkansas next season.
Charlie Strong discussed rumors about the Arkansas coaching job Wednesday on the Jim Rome show
Wednesday afternoon, Strong was a guest on the Jim Rome show, and the host asked UofL's coach this question:
"Your name has come up with regards to the Arkansas job, you're an Arkansas native…I know you'll tell me you're great where you are and you're only thinking about [Louisville]. But given your background, if that phone rings do you owe it to yourself to at least pick it up?"
Strong's response?
"Jim, I alway say this. The athletic director [Tom Jurich] and president [James Ramsey] here gave me my first opportunity. I know a lot of times your name comes up with these different jobs, but I owe it to them to uphold what we've been talking about. The phone call may not ever come [from another school]. When I got this job my name wasn't even in the mix with the Louisville job. I am fine where I'm at. I've got a lot of backing here and my family loves it here. I'm pretty comfortable where I'm at."
Rome followed up with this question: "When you say to me these are the people that gave me the opportunity, that means something to you, right?
"It does," Strong said. "A lot of times we think the grass is greener on the other side, but you don't just walk away when…you're building a program. Then I look at the players I recruited here. I told them to come here for me and for this university and then all the sudden I get a shot to go somewhere else and I walk away from them? I'm just not cut like that."
Don't miss out on the inside scoop, try our 30-day free trial or, if you have a subscription to another UofL site on Rivals or Scout, InsideTheVille.com will match the remainder of your current subscription free. If you match your subscription we'll give you an additional month at no charge.
Match your subscription from any other UofL site free
- Mike Hughes
- Louisville Insider - InsideTheVille