Bobby Petrino is once again the head coach for Arkansas football — at least, on an interim basis.
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek named Petrino the interim head coach following the firing of Sam Pittman on Sunday, Sept. 28. Pittman’s firing came following an embarrassing 56-13 home loss to Notre Dame a day before.
Petrino is back in his second year with the Razorbacks as the team’s offensive coordinator after previously serving as the head coach for the program from 2008-11. Under Petrino’s stint as offensive coordinator, the Razorbacks were averaging 552 yards and 43.5 points per game in the second season with quarterback Taylen Green.
In 2024, Arkansas finished ranked 10th in the country in total offense, and its 30.9 points per game ranked 43rd.
Here’s what you need to know about Petrino, including if he’ll be a candidate for the permanent head coaching job:
Will Bobby Petrino be a candidate for Arkansas head coach?
Yes, Petrino will be a candidate, per Yurachek.
‘We will begin a national search for our next head coach immediately and that search will include Coach Petrino, who has expressed his desire to be a candidate for the full-time job,’ Yurachek said.
How old is Bobby Petrino?
Petrino, 64, was born on March 10, 1961, in Lewistown, Montana.
Why did Bobby Petrino leave Arkansas?
Petrino posted a 34-17 record in his time as the Razorbacks coach. Arkansas won at least 10 games in each of its final two seasons with the program, including a Cotton Bowl win over Kansas State in 2011. He was hired following a one-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons, where he resigned following a 3-10 start in 2007.
However, Petrino left Arkansas due to controversy after he was involved in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in northwest Arkansas on April 1, 2012.
Initially, Petrino informed the university that he was alone on the motorcycle that crashed. However, news soon broke that was with then-25-year-old Jessica Dorrell at the time of the crash. Soon after it was learned he was having an inappropriate relationship with the former Arkansas volleyball player, and hired her to work in the athletics department. He gifted her $20,000 and did not disclose his relationship to the university.
By April 10, 2012, Petrino was fired with cause. Then-athletic director Jeff Long told reporters at the time that Petrino had ‘engaged in a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior’ before and after the motorcycle accident.
Following his firing, Petrino coached Western Kentucky in 2013 before coaching Louisville from 2016-18. He was the Missouri State head coach from 2020 to 2022.
Bobby Petrino head coaching record
Here’s a look at Petrino’s career record as a head coach:
- 2003 (Louisville): 9-4, 5-3 Conference USA
- 2004 (Louisville): 11-1, 8-0 Conference USA
- 2005 (Louisville): 9-3, 5-2 Big East
- 2006 (Louisville): 12-1, 6-1 Big East
- 2008 (Arkansas): 5-7, 2-6 SEC
- 2009 (Arkansas): 8-5, 3-5 SEC
- 2010 (Arkansas): 10-, 6-2 SEC
- 2011 (Arkansas): 11-2, 6-2 SEC
- 2013 (Western Kentucky): 8-4, 4-3 Sun Belt Conference
- 2014 (Louisville): 9-4, 5-3 ACC
- 2015 (Louisville): 8-5, 5-3 ACC
- 2016 (Louisville): 9-4, 7-1 ACC
- 2017 (Louisville): 8-5, 4-4 ACC
- 2018 (Louisville): 2-8, 0-7 ACC
- 2020 (Missouri State): 5-5, 5-1 Missouri Valley Conference
- 2021 (Missouri State): 8-4, 6-2 Missouri Valley Conference
- 2022 (Missouri State): 5-6, 3-5 Missouri Valley Conference
- Career: 137-71
