Mike Neighbors Out as Arkansas Coach After Eight Seasons
After eight seasons leading the Arkansas Razorbacks women’s basketball team, head coach Mike Neighbors has officially stepped down. The university announced his resignation on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for the 55-year-old Arkansas native, who compiled a 148-114 record during his tenure.
A Lifelong Dream Comes to an End
Neighbors, a lifelong Razorback fan, took the helm of the program in 2017, fulfilling what he called a “lifelong dream.” In a statement released by the school, he reflected on his time leading the team.
“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.”
Unfortunately, the Razorbacks’ 2024-25 season proved to be a difficult one, as the team finished with a disappointing 10-22 record, including 3-13 in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. The season ended with a 79-74 loss to Georgia in the SEC tournament.
Successes and Struggles
During his time at Arkansas, Neighbors guided the Razorbacks to six postseason appearances, including two NCAA Tournament berths in 2021 and 2022. His best season came in 2019-20 when Arkansas finished with a 24-8 record and tied for third in the SEC. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament that year, preventing what could have been a deep postseason run.
Prior to coaching at Arkansas, Neighbors spent four seasons at the University of Washington, where he achieved a 98-41 record. He led the Huskies to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 2016 behind the historic scoring efforts of Kelsey Plum, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball.
Despite early success at Arkansas, Neighbors struggled in recent seasons, finishing with a combined 9-23 record in SEC play over the past two years. The 2024-25 season was the worst in program history since 1981, and after losing several key players to graduation and the transfer portal, the team was left with an inexperienced roster competing in one of the nation’s toughest conferences.
Looking Ahead for Arkansas
Following Neighbors’ resignation, the university has announced that a national search for the next head coach will begin immediately. Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek expressed gratitude for Neighbors’ dedication and contributions to the program.
“There is no questioning his love and passion for this university and this state,” Yurachek said. “During his tenure, we enjoyed numerous memorable wins and watched some of the best players in the history of our program.”
Reports suggest that Yurachek has already begun discussions with potential candidates, including Grand Canyon University’s Molly Miller, who is also being considered for openings at Arizona State and Missouri.
Neighbors’ Legacy and Next Steps
While Neighbors was never able to replicate his Final Four success at Washington, he made a lasting impact on Arkansas women’s basketball. Under his leadership, the Razorbacks reached as high as No. 10 in the AP Top 25 rankings and produced two WNBA draft picks. However, the program’s inability to maintain consistent success ultimately led to his departure.
As Neighbors steps away from his role, he remains proud of his time leading his home-state program.
“I’ll walk out of here shoulders back, chin up,” he said. “Being from this state, I’ve been a Razorback since I was 5. … It’s hard, but we ask kids to do hard things all the time.”
With the coaching search underway, Arkansas fans will be eager to see who steps in to lead the program into its next chapter.
