Arkansas football announces hiring of Travis Williams as new defensive coordinator

FAYETTEVILLE — Two days before the start of the early signing period and just over a week before its Liberty Bowl matchup with Kansas, Arkansas football announced Monday its new defensive coordinator.

Travis Williams will replace Barry Odom who was named coach of UNLV. Williams comes to Arkansas after two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UCF.

"I didn't interview anybody that I didn't feel like was a good coach, from watching film on their product that they're putting out there," coach Sam Pittman said of his hiring process. "When I got in front of (Williams), I can remember calling (Arkansas athletics director) Hunter Yurachek and saying 'I found him.' There was no doubt in my mind."

MORE:Arkansas football defensive coordinator Barry Odom named UNLV coach

Williams was part of a staff that led the Knights to an American Athletic Conference championship and a defense that ranked No. 39 nationally in scoring defense. It's a strength Williams hopes to carry over to Arkansas.

"We’re going to play intimidating defense," Williams said. "When you watch us, we’re going to play hard, we’re going to play physical. We're going to have that mental and physical toughness that you need to play. We’re going to get our tails to the ball, and it’s going to be sound."

Williams brings SEC experience with him to Fayetteville. Before his time at UCF and a brief stint as linebackers coach at Miami, he was the co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator under Gus Malzahn at Auburn. Auburn finished in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense in four of Williams' last five seasons on the staff.

"But at the same time, when teams watch us, they’re going to say, ‘OK, those guys play hard, and they play physical,’ '' said Williams.

Williams is the third new hire to join Pittman's staff. Arkansas fired strength and conditioning coach Jamil Walker and replaced him with Ben Sowders from Louisville earlier this month. Tight ends coach Dowell Loggains left to become offensive coordinator at South Carolina. Last week, Arkansas announced the hire of Stanford tight ends coach Morgan Turner to the same post.

Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Southwest Times Record and USA TODAY Network. You can follow her on Twitter @christinalong00 or email her at clong@swtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football hires Travis Williams as new defensive coordinator