The University of Arkansas has named Marcus Edwards as its new strength and conditioning coach for the men's basketball program, filling the vacancy left by Dave Richardson, who recently accepted a similar role at Ohio State.
A pedigree of performance
Edwards arrives after a peripatetic career that has taken him through Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, Wyoming, Southern Illinois and two stints at Missouri. At Oklahoma State he helped the Cowboys advance to the NIT quarterfinals and reach the second round in both 2025 and 2026, underscoring his ability to elevate talent through targeted physical development.
His tenure at Vanderbilt placed him alongside Arkansas assistant Brad Calipari, a connection that may have facilitated his recruitment by the Razorbacks. Earlier, Edwards contributed to Missouri's staff when the Tigers captured an NCAA Tournament berth in 2018, and he returned to Columbia for the 2021‑22 season as director of athletic performance.
Beyond his recent stops, Edwards graduated from the University of Missouri in 2015 and later earned a graduate degree from the University of Texas, experiences that have grounded his approach to player conditioning and recovery.
The hiring signals Arkansas' intent to blend proven tournament‑level preparation with a fresh emphasis on strength development as the program looks to contend in the highly competitive SEC landscape.