Hunter Yurachek leaving the University of Houston for Arkansas

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Hunter Yurachek, vice president for athletics at the University of Houston, is leaving UH to become the athletics director at Arkansas.

"It's extremely disappointing," said Tilman Fertitta, chairman of the University of Houston Board of Regents. "I understand why he's doing it. Hunter's done a really good job for us. I'm disappointed he's leaving. I feel good already about some of the potential people we're looking at."

Yurachek was named to the UH position in April of 2015.

He replaced Mack Rhoades who left for Missouri and is now at Baylor.

Yurachek joined the UH athletics department in 2014 as associate vice president and chief operating officer.

"I've gotten to know Hunter," Fertitta said. "Hunter was my hire. I worked very well with him. Sometimes though people leave and you get somebody better. I think we upgraded last time and I plan to upgrade this time."

Yurachek replaces Jeff Long who was fired last month.