FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. ? After a 30-win season and whirlwind ride through the NCAA Tournament, Stan Heath was hired Thursday as the successor to Nolan Richardson as the coach at Arkansas.

Heath, who guided Kent State to the final eight of the NCAA Tournament, replaces the only coach to lead the Razorbacks to an NCAA basketball title. Richardson was fired one game shy of completing his 17th year at the school.

Heath called Richardson a pioneer for black basketball coaches.

“I’d like to thank coach Richardson,” said Heath, who is black. “He’s opened up barriers. He’s a leader.”

Arkansas hopes Heath can extend his one year of success at Kent State to a school that won the NCAA title in 1994 and made three Final Fours between 1990 and 1995. Heath inherits a team that was 14-15 last season. He said he talked to Richardson before accepting the job.

“I feel like coach Richardson would want me to be here,” Heath said.