Silveria getting Purdue job means Hogs’ football review loses leader

Information from University of Arkansas is included in this story.

Arkansas’ football review will soon be missing its leader.

University of Arkansas System President Jay B. Silveria was named the next president of Purdue University on Thursday. He plans to start there Feb. 1, 2027.

Since September, he’s been in charge of a look at how the Razorbacks can compete better. Football is the biggest piece of it.

He isn’t leaving right away, though. Board of Trustees chair Randy Lawson said he expects Silveria to stay on the job through January.

That gives the board time to start looking for a replacement.

More details are expected in the next few weeks.

How the football review started

The UA board voted unanimously Sept. 18 to put Silveria in charge of the review.

It directs him to study “the state of competitiveness of Razorback Athletics, including steps to improve the resources available to the football program.”

Coach Ryan Silverfield’s first Arkansas team was 1-1 at the time. The Hogs had just taken a 43-10 beating at then-No. 20 Utah, and they’d finished 2-10 a year earlier.

“Like all passionate Razorback fans, the Board of Trustees is united in the goal to ensure the competitiveness of all Razorback sports and specifically to restore the rich tradition of Razorback football,” Lawson said in a statement at the time.

“We expect this review to be comprehensive, and we trust President Silveria to lead this effort to identify how we can improve our position, including identifying the necessary resources and empowering key people to be successful,” the board chair added.

Lawson played football for the Razorbacks. He later said the board had to “get football turned around.” No finish date was set, but he said the January transfer portal was part of the thinking.

In an Oct. 2 statement, Silveria said he was “taking the time necessary” to learn “what is needed to return the football program to prominence.”

Silverfield said in a radio interview that the review was “going quite well.” Fans haven’t been told much beyond that.

Lawson says Silveria will be missed

Silveria took over the UA System on Jan. 15, 2025.

Lawson said Silveria brought progress and unity to the system, along with a clear plan for where it’s headed.

“While we are disappointed to receive the news that President Silveria is leaving, I recognize that this is a unique opportunity for him to share his strengths and leadership skills at another well-respected institution that can greatly benefit from them,” Lawson said.

He also liked how the system’s 22 campuses, divisions and units started working together.

“Under his leadership, our 22 campuses, divisions and units have worked closer together, focusing on finding benefits and efficiencies as a system operating as the sum of its parts,” Lawson said.

“Jay has an infectious, positive style of leadership that will be missed,” he added. “We appreciate the work he’s done for the UA System and wish him the best in his new role at Purdue.”

Silveria says the move wasn’t planned

Silveria said he wasn’t looking to leave. The Purdue job just came along, and he couldn’t ignore it.

“I came to Arkansas knowing very little about the state and the UA System and am leaving with lifelong friends and colleagues who could not have been any more helpful, professional and warm during our time here,” he said.

He thanked the more than 110,000 students and employees across the system.

“This is truly an impressive university system filled with wonderful and talented people, and I’m grateful for my time in Arkansas and wish nothing but the best for the more than 110,000 students and employees across the UA System who welcomed us with open arms and inspired me to get up every morning and work tirelessly to promote and fulfill our mission,” Silveria said.

“I appreciate the opportunity the UA Board afforded me and entrusted me with, and I thank everyone I’ve had the pleasure to serve and work alongside,” he said.