The University of Kansas will hire former Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long to lead its athletic department.
KU announced Thursday that Long will replace Sheahon Zenger, who was fired May 21. Zenger was KU's athletic director for nearly seven years. He received a $1.4 million severance package.
Long was athletic director at Arkansas from 2008 to 2017 before being fired last November amid criticism over the football team's performance. The Razorbacks, who also fired coach Brett Bielema, went 4-8 last season.
KU said Long agreed to a five-year contract that pays him $1.5 million annually. Private funds from Kansas Athletics will pay $1.3 million, with the remaining $200,000 paid by the university.
Long will be introduced at a news conference July 11 and will start his new job Aug. 1.
He was chairman of the inaugural College Football Playoff selection committee for 2014 and 2015 and was part of the committee through 2017.
One of Long's biggest challenges will be fixing KU football team. The Jayhawks were 1-11 last season and are 3-33 under coach David Beaty.
