FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — The University of Arkansas is scheduled to announce Jason Garrett as the new head football coach at a press conference later this weekend. Garrett is the current Dallas Cowboys head coach and will begin the transition immediately.

Garrett took over as head coach of the Cowboys in 2010 following the firing of Wade Phillips, previously he was an offensive coordinator for the Cowboys and a quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins.

The Cowboys released a brief statement this morning from owner Jerry Jones.

“I am proud of all the great seasons we had here under Garrett, I believe in his ability as a head coach,” Jones’ statement said. “At the moment we feel like he needs some tools to develop for the future, so I am sending him down to our minor league program with the Razorbacks and we will see about calling him up again in a few years.”

Jones continued by pointing to former Cowboy coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer who were successful at the college ranks before winning Super Bowls with the Cowboys. Jones stated that the departure from that winning formula has led to a decline in the Cowboys football program.

Garrett is expected to meet with Jones and Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek to determine staffing, recruiting, and player retention priorities as well as when to announce that John Stephen Jones will be the starting quarterback for next year.

Yurachek was not available for comment before the press conference, but his office issued a brief statement.

“The Razorback football program and Athletic Director Yurachek are excited to work with Coach Garrett and we are always appreciative of the support and oversight from Mr Jones in football matters. Even though we ultimately had to let his last hire, Coach Morris, go this season, we are optimistic about the future of the program under Garrett” the statement read.”

Sources within the University said the Razorbacks did interview a number of other coaching candidates and were close to offering Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin before Jones called an emergency meeting following the Cowboy’s loss on Thursday night to Chicago. In that meeting, Jones informed the University that they were taking Garrett.

The official Pepsi® Razorback Press Conference is scheduled for 6pm today.