FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Former Arkansas coach Clifton Ealy reunited with the Razorback coaching staff for the third time, as he was named George Pugh's replacement as tight ends coach Tuesday.

Pugh, who had been with Arkansas for two seasons, resigned last week, citing personal reasons.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with the tight ends, being on the offensive side of the football, and helping us achieve that national championship'' Ealy said.

Ealy first served on the Razorback staff in 1987 as a graduate assistant under then-head coach Ken Hatfield, working with the Razorbacks' secondary team. He returned to the University of Arkansas in 1998, serving as the bandits and rovers coach in coach Houston Nutt's first two years.

"When I left I had some personal problems that I was dealing with at that time, and it was the best thing for me to part with the university,'' Ealy said. "I was talking with Houston, and he said if the opportunity presents itself that he would hire me back.''

Ealy also worked with the defensive backs under Nutt in 1997 at Boise State.

"I'm exited to have the opportunity for Clifton to rejoin our staff,'' Nutt said. "I've always had the utmost confidence in his ability, his work ethic and his loyalty to the Razorbacks. Based on my previous experiences with him, I know he is fully committed to helping us put another championship team on the field this season as well as in the years to come.''

Ealy said he wanted to get the tight ends more involved in the offensive schemes, using them as blockers but also getting them the football four to six times a game. Using the tight ends takes pressure off the running game and the wide receivers, Ealy said, making the tight end a "weapon'' in the passing game.

Ealy served as the outside linebackers and free safeties coach at Fayetteville High School for the last three years, as well as worked at the Fayetteville Juvenile Detention Center.

He served as interim head coach for three months at Fayetteville High School after the resignation of Mike Adams, but Bryant's Daryl Patton was hired for the job earlier this month.

Until ending his college career because of injuries, Ealy was a two-time honorable mention All-America and all-conference receiver at the University of Central Arkansas. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from UCA in 1982, and worked with the wide receivers from 1985-86 as a graduate assistant.

In 1990, Ealy returned to UCA to coach full time, spending seven seasons with the Bears as the secondary coach (1990-94), linebackers coach (1995-96) and defensive coordinator for all seven seasons.

Between his stints at UCA, Ealy also served as the secondary coach at Delta State (Miss.) in 1988-89 and defensive coordinator in 1989.