Arkansas interim Athletics Director Julie Cromer Peoples announced following the firing of Bret Bielema that defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads would serve as interim coach.

Rhoads was promoted to defensive coordinator in January after he previously served as defensive backs coach.

Rhoads came to Arkansas in February 2016 after 16 years as either a head coach or defensive coordinator at Iowa State, Pittsburgh and Auburn, including the previous seven seasons (2009-15) as Iowa State’s head coach.

He is a native of Ankeny, Iowa.

In his playing days, Rhoads was a three-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Missouri Western.

Over his nine combined seasons as a defensive coordinator at Auburn (2008) and Pittsburgh (2000-07), Rhoads’ units ranked in the top 30 nationally in scoring defense six times and the top 12 for fewest yards three times.