Bret Bielema is out. Now the question officially becomes: Who will Arkansas hire to replace him?

The Razorbacks fired Bielema on Friday, the announcement coming minutes after a 48-45 loss to Missouri. It capped Arkansas’ 4-8 season and left Bielema with a 29-34 record. He looked like a strong hire after his stellar track record at Wisconsin, but floundered in the SEC.

Before Arkansas makes a new coaching hire, these seven important individuals are in charge of finding Arkansas new athletic director. If they don’t nail this AD hire, the Razorbacks football program will suffer.

Oddshark came out with a list last week with odds on who would be the next coach in Fayetteville. Some of these names would work out well in the Natural State. Others, I’m unsure about.

Here are the top 10 names Arkansas should consider as the next coach.

10. Bryan Harsin

Current Job: Boise State HC

Boise State’s culture is slightly different from Arkansas, but the two programs have similar characteristics. Certain coaches fit the hard working culture in Boise. Arkansas needs a coach of a similar mold, willing to develop talent.

The only problem is luring Harsin away from the blue field. He has a connection in Arkansas, as the former Arkansas State coach. Though that link exists, he has far more connections in his current situation. Boise State is his alma matter, and he played quarterback at Capital High School in Boise.

Boise State has won nine games already and achieved nine victories in his previous three years at the helm. The Broncos are in good hands and if he wanted to chase a bigger job, the Razorbacks would welcome him with open arms.

Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

9. Mike Gundy

Current Job: Oklahoma State HC

Gavin, one of Gundy’s sons, attends the University of Arkansas. Unfortunately for Razorbacks fans, it’s going to be nearly impossible to lure him away from his alma matter. If not for that reason, Gundy would be top 3 on this list.

I had a conversation with one of his former quarterbacks, Clint Chelf, earlier in the fall. Chelf doesn’t think Gundy is going anywhere. The question begins around the 34:00 mark. He mentioned that Gundy’s new contact among other things gave him new incentives to stay, including the renovations of Boone Pickens Stadium.

According to USA Today, Gundy’s salary trails only Tom Herman and Gary Patterson in the Big 12. He signed the fat new contact in the summer.

His career record is great at 112-53, including 11 straight bowl games. The Cowboys are eligible to play in another bowl in 2017 and will bring the streak to 12. Since 2005, he has had only one losing season — his first year. Six All-Americans have played in a Cowboys uniform under his watch.

With that resume, it never hurts to pick up the phone and try.

Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

8. Chad Morris

Current Job: SMU HC

Morris could be the next coach at Texas Tech or Texas A&M. Both are step up from SMU, and he wouldn’t have to leave the state. Morris is also an Aggies alum.

He’s credited for taking Clemson’s offense to new heights from 2011-2014, back when he was the offensive coordinator and key recruiter. Clemson broke 127 offensive records during his time there.

Some of his players include at Clemson include Sammy Watkins, Tajh Boyd, DeAndre Hopkins, Dwayne Allen, Jaron Brown, Andre Ellington and Martavis Bryant. That’s quite a list.

Morris has a track record with 16 seasons as a Texas high school coach. Arkansas needs Texas recruits to survive in the SEC, and he brings that knowledge of the terrain to the table.

7. Lane Kiffin

Current Job: FAU HC

Lane Kiffin is an offensive genius, but he includes some luggage.

Some of his controversies include the hiring of Kendal Briles, en wake of the massive Baylor scandal. Kiffin also left for USC after coaching Tennessee for just one season. He could jump for another job after a year or two at Arkansas and the Razorbacks would have to start from scratch.

It’s funny, because according to Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports, Kiffin was almost hired back in 2007 when the Razorbacks elected to go with Petrino. According to Cowherd’s sources, Bobby Petrino left the Atlanta Falcons so quickly because Arkansas was ready to pull the trigger on Kiffin if he wasn’t sure.

But he can coach. Under his leadership, the Owls have a top 10 scoring offense. He’s coached three All-Americans and has a career 43-24 coaching record as a head coach.

His dad, Monte Kiffin, was the defensive coordinator for the Razorbacks in the 1970s, so there is an Arkansas connection. Maybe he will clean up his act?

6. Matt Campbell

Current Job: Iowa State HC

His name might ring a bell for Razorbacks fans. Matt Campbell was the Toledo coach who stormed War Memorial Stadium and beat Arkansas in 2015. That same season, he won the MAC coach of the year. His good attributes extend far beyond one giant upset.

He’s 45-28 overall and had three 9-win seasons at Toledo. Iowa State had not won seven games since 2009. In just his second season, he’s guided them to seven wins, including one of the biggest upsets of the season — beating Oklahoma on the road.

He doesn’t have a lot of experience coaching in the South, which would be difficult to navigate the terrain and snatch up high school prospects. Still, Campbell is a hot coaching commodity that won’t be available for long.

5. Brent Venables

Current Job: Clemson DC

It’s always scary to bring in a guy with no head coaching experience, but Venables’ ceiling is high.

Venables is a talented recruiter and is widely respected by coaches and players in that area. Since he arrived in 2012, Clemson has had a top 20 recruiting class every year. He’s coached at Oklahoma and could recruit the area Arkansas needs to pluck recruits from.

He won Broyles Award in 2016, given to the best assistant in college football. Venables has never been a part of a losing team. His teams have also led the NCAA in total tackles for loss each of the past four seasons.

Coached under Dabo Swinney, who is a top 3 coach in the country. Like Kirby Smart learning under Nick Saban at Alabama, Venables has picked up a thing or two from Swinney. It’s a riskier higher, but the fan base could reap major benefits if it pays off.

4. Mike Leach

Current Job: Washington State HC

Arkansas fans don’t have unrealistic expectations. Fans were excited when Bielema won eight games in 2015. Leach has made a living on having OK teams with a sprinkle of a great team now and then. If Leach can win 7-8 games regularly and have a 9-10 win season and compete for a division title once every four years, Arkansas fans will be satisfied.

In his past four seasons, Leach’s teams have averaged at least 31 points per game. The Cougars are averaging 33 points on average in 2017. Arkansas fans love offense and Leach provides that. Defense would be an issue, but defense doesn’t sell tickets.

Not to mention, he’s good for a quote or two.

3. Charlie Strong

Current Job: USF HC

Some Razorbacks fans thought he was going to take over as defensive coordinator when Bielema sent him an encouraging text en light of the rumors that he was going to be fired at Texas.

He didn’t win enough at Texas, but he could succeed as head coach at Arkansas. The expectations aren’t as high, and he isn’t a Texas guy. He’s from Arkansas. Strong played high school football at Batesville High and college ball at Central Arkansas.

Strong is 62-38 as a head coach. He guided Louisville to a Sugar Bowl win in 2012 and was a two-time Big East coach of the Year there. His current team, South Florida, is 9-1 in 2017 entering Friday’s showdown against Scott Frost and UCF. The Bulls have a top 25 scoring offense and defense this season.

Since 1995, Strong has coached 37 players taken in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft. He’s coached under Lou Holtz and Urban Meyer. It’s hard to see how he wouldn’t prosper in Fayetteville.

Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

2. Mike Norvell

Current Job: Memphis HC

Norvell could be a nice fit. Norvell hails from the state of Arkansas and according to SB Nation, his two years recruiting for Memphis are considered a plus to boosters.

Norvell proved that he can do more than just take over a program. Many Memphis fans thought the Tigers were doomed to take a step back after Justin Fuente bolted for Virginia Tech, but Norvell has his team on the brink of a conference championship this season.

One concern. He’s only in his second season as a head coach.

Arkansas wouldn’t owe him that much if the Razorbacks decided to buy out his Memphis contract. Considering Arkansas owes Jeff Long and Bielema quite a bit of money, that’s a huge plus.

1. Gus Malzahn

Current Job: Auburn HC

Some Razorbacks fans forget that it was Malzahn who optimized the Arkansas offense and turned it into a lethal attack in 2006. The “Wild Hog” was one of the biggest changes to the the college football world.

In his coaching tenure, Malzahn has won at least seven games every year as a head coach. He has led Auburn to four consecutive bowl appearances and will appear in a fifth after qualifying in 2017. Three of those have been New Year’s Day bowl games. In just his first season, he guided Auburn to the BCS National Championship. He could be headed to the Playoff this season.

He knows the area very well, because of the coordinator role at Arkansas and coaching high school football for 10 plus years in the state. Either his agent is doing an excellent job of planting rumors, or Gus really wants to come home.

Malzahn could be playing Arkansas fans for suckers. The new athletic director won’t know until they meet at the negotiating table. If he wants to come home, pay the man because his return will revitalize Arkansas football.