Who will be leading Arkansas’ defense after Travis Williams’ firing?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas has announced an interim defensive coordinator after Travis Williams was fired on Monday.

With the defensive staff undergoing an overhaul, the university has announced an interim defensive coordinator, assistant defensive line coach Chris Wilson.

Wilson has experience as a defensive coordinator, most recently with the Houston Roughnecks in the United Football League (UFL) this past spring. He won Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles as the team’s defensive line coach.

Wilson was also a defensive coordinator with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL and with Colorado from 2021 to 2022.

Che Hendrix, who joined the Razorbacks earlier this year as the assistant defensive backs coach/high school relations, will coach the team’s safeties. Hendrix was previously the head coach at Boerne High School in Texas.

The university also announced that running backs coach Kolby Smith will take over offensive coordinator duties for interim head coach Bobby Petrino while he calls plays during games. Smith is in his second season with the Razorbacks after working with the Miami Dolphins for four seasons.

Williams, along with secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Deke Adams, were dismissed by Petrino on Monday morning after a 2-3 start to the 2025 campaign.