Hunter Yurachek: Son| Salary| Comments| Wife| Contract| Email

Who is Hunter Yurachek

Hunter Yurachek (born October 21, 1968) is an American collegiate sports administrator — currently serving as Vice Chancellor & Athletic Director at University of Arkansas (UA).
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Guilford College (1990) and a master’s degree in sports administration from University of Richmond (1994). He was a four-year letter winner in basketball at Guilford. 

Before joining Arkansas, Yurachek worked at several universities including Wake Forest University, Vanderbilt University, Western Carolina University, University of Virginia, and University of Akron — in various athletic administrative roles.
He also served as Athletic Director at Coastal Carolina University (where he was named 2014 FCS Athletic Director of the Year) and as Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at University of Houston before landing the AD job at Arkansas.

Family & Children (Sons)

Yurachek is married to Jennifer Yurachek. The couple has three sons: Ryan Yurachek, Jake Yurachek and Brooks Yurachek.

• Ryan played football at Marshall University (2014–2017), and had brief stints with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.

• Jake played college football (initially at Colorado, before transferring) and later worked in athletics fundraising at another university.

• Brooks — the youngest — emerged as a promising high school football defender in Arkansas.

Yurachek has often expressed pride in his sons’ athletic pursuits, noting that growing up in a sports-oriented family deeply influenced their love for football.

Salary & Contract

• When he was first hired by Arkansas in December 2017, Yurachek signed a five-year contract reportedly worth US$850,000 per year.

• His contract was extended in February 2022 through 2027, with a new base salary of US$1.25 million per year, plus performance-based incentives.

• Later reports show that by 2024 his total compensation (including his role as Vice Chancellor for Athletics) had risen to US$1.5 million annually.

• In addition, there is mention of US$250,000 in deferred compensation, payable after January 1, 2028 — part of his long-term contract arrangements.

This progression underscores how UA values his leadership and wants to retain him, especially given his successes across multiple sports programs.

Role, Impact & Comments

Since being appointed AD at Arkansas on December 4, 2017, Yurachek has been credited with revitalizing the university’s athletics programs. Under his leadership, multiple sports have seen both competitive and academic success. 

He’s also gained recognition beyond campus: in 2024, Yurachek was named Chair of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee — reflecting his reputation for integrity, commitment, and capability to handle high pressure in college sports governance.

Despite public debate and fan speculation about pay and perks, the CFP chair position itself is reportedly not as highly paid — his compensation comes primarily from his role as Arkansas’ AD. 

Personal & Private: What We Know (And Don’t)

• Yurachek’s wife is Jennifer; they are public about their family and often appear at games to support their sons.

• The sons (Ryan, Jake, Brooks) have varying levels of public athletic engagement, especially Brooks who recently made headlines in high school football.

• What’s not public: We do not have a verified public record for a personal email address for Hunter Yurachek — and universities typically protect such personal contact info.

Why Hunter Yurachek’s Story Matters

• His career tracks a steady climb through increasingly responsible roles at multiple universities — highlighting how persistence and diversification in athletics administration can lead to top-tier leadership jobs.

• Yurachek’s leadership at Arkansas coincides with a resurgence in performance across many sports, improving not just competition results but also student-athlete academic performance and infrastructure.

• His rise in compensation and trust (e.g. being named CFP Committee Chair) reflects broader trends: as collegiate athletics grows in revenue, universities invest more in executive-level athletic administrators.