Arkansas is set to hire John L. Smith to fill a defensive coaching vacancy, according to a Louisville television report.

Smith, formerly a head coach at Louisville and Michigan State, will be announced Friday as part of the Razorbacks defensive staff, WHAS11 News in Louisville is reporting.

No confirmation was available from the University of Arkansas, but a job description for an assistant coaching position posted on the university website has been removed.

A UA official said no announcement was scheduled for Thursday. That official did not speculate on when a potential announcement on the vacated position would be made.

Coach Bobby Petrino is scheduled to meet with media at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The press conference was scheduled 24 hours before reports of a coaching hire began circulating.

Petrino and Smith do have a history.

In fact, Petrino was an assistant at Louisville for Smith, who had a 132-86 record in 18 seasons as a head coach. Smith was also head coach at Utah State and had Petrino as part of his staff there.

Smith was 41-21 in five season at Louisville, guiding the Cardinals to five bowl appearances. He spent four seasons at Michigan State and was fired after going 22-26.

Petrino has pointed to Smith as an influence on his coaching philosophies.

A position on the Arkansas staff opened up Monday when defensive backs coach Lorenzo Ward left to become defensive coordinator at South Carolina.

Smith's responsibilities were not immediately known, according to WHASS.