Former Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino. Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

Bobby Petrino is returning to the Arkansas coaching staff

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/28/23

The Arkansas Razorbacks are hiring Bobby Petrino to be their new offensive coordinator, bringing him back to the program 12 years after he was fired by the program following a scandal.

Petrino previously held the same offensive coordinator title with Texas A&M, but left following the Aggies' hiring of Mike Elko to become the program's new head coach.

Bobby Petrino has agreed to return to @RazorbackFB as offensive coordinator and a deal is being finalized, sources tell ESPN. Petrino won 10 games in 2010 and 11 in 2011 as the Hogs’ head coach, but was fired following the motorcycle accident scandal.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) November 28, 2023

Petrino coached the Razorbacks between 2008 and 2011, compiling a 34-17 record with a pair of top-25 finishes.

His career at Arkansas ended in disgrace, however, when he was involved in a motorcycle accident in April, 2012. Petrino originally said he was the only person on the motorcycle at the time, but it was later revealed that a former Arkansas volleyball player, Jessica Dorrell, was also on the bike and that the two had been involved in an affair. Petrino had recently hired Dorrell to be a student-athlete coordinator.

During the school's investigation into the accident and Petrino's relationship with Dorrell, it was revealed that Petrino had given her several gifts including $20K in cash.

Following all of that Petrino was fired.

Along with his time at Arkansas, he also had two different head coaching stops at Louisville, Western Kentucky and FCS Missouri State.

He also had a very brief head coaching tenure in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons but left before he completed even one full season to return to the college ranks.

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