The search for that person has begunMike Neighbors, 148-114 in eight seasons the helm of the Razorbacks, stepped down on Tuesday.

The Greenwood native’s team finished 10-22 overall and 3-13 in SEC action this season, the worst marks during a tenure that saw six postseason berths, but only two NCAA Tournament ones.

“As I shared in my introductory press conference on April 4, 2017, the opportunity to coach the Hogs fulfilled a lifelong dream,” Neighbors said. “I also acknowledged that there would be a time when that dream would end, and until then, I pledged to do my best to make my family, my team and my home state of Arkansas proud.”

“One day would have been an honor! Yet, I’ve had the privilege of leading our program for 2,898 days.”

“I am appreciative of all the administrators, staff, student-athletes, managers, practice players, spirit squad members, the Hog Wild band, table crew, ushers, UAPD, facility staff, radio and TV talent, boosters and fans, for the support and commitment to Arkansas women’s basketball over the last eight seasons. We leave with our heads high and enough memories to last a lifetime.”

Neighbors, who led Washington to the Four before taking over at Arkansas for Jimmy Dykes, is 246-155 in his 12-year head coaching career.

Arkansas Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek extended his appreciation to Neighbors in a press release.

“I am deeply appreciative of Coach Neighbors and his contributions to the University of Arkansas and our program during the past eight seasons,” Yurachek said. “There is no questioning his love and passion for this university and this state.

‘After a successful run at the University of Washington, he returned to his home state to take on the challenge of competing in the nation’s most challenging conference. During his tenure, we enjoyed numerous memorable wins and watched some of the best players in the history of our program.

“I want to thank Coach Neighbors for his commitment and dedication to the Razorback program. I wish Mike, Jayci and their family the very best.”

The NCAA transfer portal opens on March 25 so it would be optimal to have a new head coach in place by that time.

A home run hire would certainly be former Arkansas assistant and current Texas head coach Vic Schaefer, recently the SEC’s Coach Of the Year.

He was an assistant coach and associate head coach at Arkansas from 1997-2003.

But prying him away from the Longhorns, where his team is currently 31-3 heading into the NCAA Tournament would no doubt be a tough chore to pull off.

More realistic options might be former Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper, who served a studio analyst on the SEC Network this season, or current Grand Canyon coach and Missouri native Molly Miller.

A former Tennessee star point guard under legendary coach Pat Summit, Harper was 108-52 overall and 53-24 in SEC action in five seasons as head coach of the Volunteers.

Despite two previous Sweet 16 appearances, Harper was let go after finishing 20-13 and 10-6 in league games during the 2023-2024 season and being ousted in the second round in the NCAA Tournament.

Harper (47) had previously been the head coach at Western Carolina (2004-2009), North Carolina State (2009-2013), Missouri State (2013-2019) and has guided four different programs to the NCAA Tournament.

The 38-year-old Miller grew up in Springfield, Mo., and both played and coached at Drury, where she went 180-6 in six years, including 69-1 in he final two seasons at the Division II program.

Miller’s Grand Canyon team is 29-2 this season, won the Western Athletic Conference with a perfect 16-0 mark and has the nation’s longest current winning streak at 27.

They Antelopes are set to face Utah Tech on Wednesday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Some other rising stars in the coaching profession include Missouri c and Arkansas State’s Destinee Rogers.

Cunningham was previously head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University after being an assistant at VCU, Notre Dame and Duke.

She has led Missouri State to 20-12, 23-10 and 24-7 overall marks in her three seasons coaching the Bears.

Rogers’ Arkansas State squad is headed to the NCAA Tournament this season after her team downed James Madison 86-79 to win the Sun Belt Conference tournament title.

Arkansas State went 21-10 this season and 15-3 in league action despite leading scorer Izzy Higginbottom transferring to Arkansas.

James Madison (28-5) won the regular season title with an 18-0 mark.