Sports

Arkansas Coach Put on Leave After ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ Revealed Following Motorcycle Accident

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bobby Petrino has improved every step of the way at Arkansas – not just his team’s performance but his image.

The coach’s revelation Thursday of an inappropriate relationship and his attempt to cover it up now threatens to derail all the progress Petrino has made in four seasons.

Bobby Petrino, Arkansas Coach, Put on Leave Following Inappropriate Relationship

In this Tuesday, April 3, 2012, photo, Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino speaks during a news conference in Fayetteville, Ark. Petrino has been put on paid leave. Athletic director Jeff Long announced the decision late Thursday, April 5, capping a stunning day in which it was revealed that Petrino had a 25-year-old female employee with him during a weekend motorcycle ride that ended in a crash. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Arkansas is expected to return to spring practice Friday afternoon, led by a pair of Heisman Trophy hopefuls in quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis.

The team will do so without Petrino, who was put on administrative leave Thursday night after athletic director Jeff Long learned Petrino had failed to disclose he had been riding with a female employee half his age when his motorcycle skidded off the road over the weekend.

Petrino said he had been concerned about protecting his family and keeping an “inappropriate relationship from becoming public.”

It was as stunning admission for a highly successful coach who prides himself on complete control and intense privacy in his personal life. Petrino will now await his fate while Long conducts a review.

Whether his uncertain status affects the Razorbacks remains to be seen.

“I will fully cooperate with the university throughout this process and my hope is to repair my relationships with my family, my athletic director, the Razorback Nation and remain the head coach of the Razorbacks,” he said in a statement issued by the university.

Long announced the decision to put Petrino on leave at a late-night news conference, one that was reminiscent of when the former Atlanta Falcons coach was hired by the Razorbacks on Dec. 11, 2007. Long said he had no timeline in determining Petrino’s future with the Razorbacks.

“I’m at the beginning of the review. I don‘t know what I’m going to find,” Long said. “I am disappointed that coach Petrino did not share with me, when he had the opportunity to, the full extent of the accident and who was involved.”

Petrino just completed his fourth season with the Razorbacks, who have developed into a national contender under his watch – improving their win total each season. He’s 34-17 in four seasons at the school, 21-5 over the last two, and the Hogs finished last season ranked No. 5 after losing only to national champion Alabama and runner-up LSU.

He came to Fayetteville after a 13-game stint with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 season. He endured plenty of criticism on his way out of Atlanta, from fans and former players alike, for leaving at midseason.

Before that he was at Louisville, guiding the Cardinals to a 41-9 record from 2003-07. When he left to take the NFL job, there were plenty of people who felt he departed in a less than admirable way and had been constantly eyeing other jobs while he was there.

He infamously met with Auburn officials in 2003 to talk about taking the Tigers’ head coaching job while Tommy Tuberville still had it.

But Petrino was greeted as a savior by Arkansas fans and has given them no reason not to admire and trust him since.

Until now.

Long said he didn’t hear about the passenger – 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell, a former Arkansas volleyball player and current football program employee – until Petrino called him Thursday afternoon, minutes before a police report was released disclosing her presence at the accident.

Assistant head coach and linebackers coach Taver Johnson has been put in charge of the program in Petrino’s absence. The former Ohio State assistant coach was hired in January.

Long’s investigation could lead, based on conduct clauses in Petrino’s contract, to a suspension or firing. While this case does not appear to involve any possible NCAA violations, Jim Tressel’s firing at Ohio State last year showed that even a coach who won a national championship can lose his job for lying to his boss.

“I hope to have a resolution soon,” Long said. “I certainly don’t have all the answers here tonight, as we meet. But again, I have an obligation and responsibility to obtain the information and then act appropriately on that information.”

The 51-year-old Petrino, who is married with four children, didn’t mention he had a passenger during a news conference on Tuesday, two days after Sunday’s accident, and a school statement that day quoted Petrino’s family as saying “no other individuals” were involved. Petrino said then that he had spent Sunday with his wife, Becky, at a lake and was going for an evening ride. His only mention of Dorrell was vague, and without identification.

“When I came out of the ditch, there was a lady there that had flagged down a car,” Petrino said Tuesday, nursing four broken ribs and wearing a neck brace to support a cracked neck vertebra. “The guy that was in the passenger’s seat said, `Get in, we’ll just take you right to the hospital instead of waiting,’ and so I got in the car and they headed toward Fayetteville.”

In Thursday’s statement, Petrino apologized and acknowledged that he had kept quiet about Dorrell.

“I have been in constant pain, medicated and the circumstances involving the wreck have come out in bits and pieces. That said, I certainly had a concern about Jessica Dorrell’s name being revealed,” he said. “In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details. Today, I’ve acknowledged this previous inappropriate relationship with my family and those within the athletic department administration.”

Dorrell, who did not return a call seeking comment, was hired March 28 by Petrino as the student-athlete development coordinator after serving as a fundraiser with the Razorback Foundation. She is in charge of organizing the recruiting process for the football team, including initial eligibility for each incoming player.

Long said he had not decided whether to suspend Dorrell.

Petrino signed a new seven-year contract in December 2010 after completing his third regular season at Arkansas. The contract, which was for an average of $3.53 million annually.

The police report said Petrino was riding with Dorrell when he lost control of his motorcycle. Dorrell said in the report that she wasn’t sure what caused the accident, during which Petrino was unable to maneuver a turn and laid the motorcycle down on its left side while sliding off a rural, two-lane road about 20 miles southeast of Fayetteville.

Petrino said in the report that wind and sun caused the accident. The police report said Petrino and Dorrell were taken by a passer-by to an intersection in southeast Fayetteville, where a state police officer took Petrino to the hospital.

The police report said Dorrell wasn’t taken to a hospital, and that she was dropped off at her vehicle, which was parked at the intersection. State police spokesman Bill Sadler said Petrino didn‘t try to hide Dorrell’s part in the accident when questioned on Tuesday.

“Coach Petrino was as cooperative as anybody that we could ever hope to encounter following the traffic crash,” Sadler said.

Petrino, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, was hospitalized but had since returned to practice.

Arkansas has high expectations for next season, led by first-team All-Southeastern Conference quarterback Wilson. Also, Davis’ return after missing all of last season with an ankle injury has only added to the high hopes.

How Petrino’s misstep affects those hopes has yet to be seen. The next move is Long’s.

Comments (25)

  • friedclouds
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 12:07am

    I googled the woman’s pic….all I can say is…I can see the temptation.

    Report Post »  
  • FreedomWitness
    Posted on April 8, 2012 at 11:34pm

    The blond, being blond, probably tried to grab the horn of the saddle, forgetting that she was on a motorcycle and not on a horse thus causing the accident.:)

    Report Post » FreedomWitness  
  • Mr_Meaner
    Posted on April 8, 2012 at 4:46pm

    Petrino should stay.
    If Rick Pitino can stay at Louisville, and have the success he’s had, after being caught in an affair, there’s no reason to fire Petrino.
    GO HOGS!!

    Report Post »  
  • hogtrashhd
    Posted on April 8, 2012 at 10:39am

    “awaits his fate”.. is it illegal for a man to have a woman on the side???? what the hell is wrong with this country? it‘s none of anyone’s business but his and his familys.. geez this shet has to stop… get out of everyone’s bed.. leave people ALONE.. stop trying to destroy anyone who has a life.. stop it

    Report Post »  
    • 2Amendment
      Posted on April 8, 2012 at 10:50am

      It’s always the cover!

      Report Post »  
    • term limits for congress
      Posted on April 8, 2012 at 12:51pm

      It is not about morality or being judgemental. It is about his contract. Coaches (high school/college) have clauses in their contract that specifically state what they cannot do with students, former students, employees, etc. Goes for male and female coaches.

      [some] Parents pay money to send their kids to school – they don‘t want to worry about coaches trying to get in their kids’ pants. The school also depends on donations from alumni and other folks. Schools do not want this kind of notariety, and they put it in contracts to make sure it doesn’t happen.

      Report Post »  
  • weremoose
    Posted on April 7, 2012 at 1:17pm

    Cooler heads need to prevail here. It’s easy to be self-righteous on the internet, but the reality is that firing the coach hurts a lot more people than just Petrino.

    Arky has at least two players expected to have a high stock in next year’s draft. If we go 9-4 or 8-5 under some interim head coach rather than 12-1 like predicted, then that could seriously hurt Wilson‘s and Davis’ future careers. Not to mention shutting the door on probably a few players who would go pro if we do well but won‘t be able to if we don’t. And I‘m not even going to go into detail about all the money the university makes off a successful program and all the expansion they have been able to do as a direct result of Petrino’s performance.

    I’m not saying let him get off free. Dock his pay, toss out his contract with intent to renegotiate at the end of the year. If he keeps his nose clean, then bring him back under a less lucrative long term contract and if he screws up again, then fire him. Resist the “one-and-done” mentality pervasive in our modern culture because sometimes people screw up – nobody is perfect, not even you.

    Report Post » weremoose  
    • rangerp
      Posted on April 7, 2012 at 4:44pm

      If he stays, he will have a hard time in the future dishing out any punishment for players that break rules. he needs to pack up and head down the line.

      I bet he thought he was hot stuff putting that young blond on the back of his Harley. Now he looks like a foolish old man.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • weremoose
      Posted on April 7, 2012 at 4:57pm

      That’s not entirely true. This was a case of someone getting in over his head and then lying in a moment of weakness to attempt to get out of it.
      A kid who can‘t take direction from someone simply because they’ve made a mistake isn’t someone you want on your team anyway.

      Game changes altogether if it comes out that this has been a pattern or becomes a pattern of misbehavior.

      Report Post » weremoose  
  • steelerhog
    Posted on April 7, 2012 at 11:58am

    Yes…..I agree that Petrino should go. I love the Razorbacks but not the coaches. He is a great coach, but not a good representative for the U of A Football team. I for one, didnt think this story warranted a cover piece on the blaze. We have more important tasks at hand. WOOOOOOOOOPIGSOOOOIE!!!!

    Report Post » steelerhog  
  • Vegascelt
    Posted on April 7, 2012 at 9:36am

    At least it was a female, of age, and consensual.

    Report Post »  
  • Don Springfield
    Posted on April 7, 2012 at 8:01am

    If they think he can continue to win he won’t be fired. That’s the Razorblack way.

    Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on April 7, 2012 at 9:04am

      your sins will find you out.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • weremoose
      Posted on April 7, 2012 at 1:04pm

      Oh please, don’t act like that cancer is limited to Arkansas. You know that’s the way it works in every major sports program.

      Report Post » weremoose  
  • Harley Grit
    Posted on April 7, 2012 at 7:39am

    Let’s see…. High profile coach of a large Div I school doesn’t tell the truth up front…. Gets caught lying..gets FIRED… Uhmmmm,,sounds familiar…
    I’d say nanananheyheyheyGOODBYE!!!!!
    Really good roll model for America’s youth….

    Report Post » Harley Grit  
  • USMCRE5
    Posted on April 7, 2012 at 7:22am

    Fire the coach, fire the girl! Doesn’t anyone stand up for morals, values, principles anymore. Make an example of them and MAYBE people will begin to see that this crap needs to stop. To do very little about this simply perpetuates this kind of behavior. What a shame for his wife and children to hear what he has been up to. His fame as a coach should not minimize his immorality. Plenty of coaches waiting to take his place and plenty of others to take the girls’ place.

    Report Post »  
  • CPLGEORGE
    Posted on April 6, 2012 at 7:39pm

    Wasn‘t that one of Clinton’s Alma Maters? The dork doesn’t fall far from the Razorback.

    Report Post » CPLGEORGE  
  • lukerw
    Posted on April 6, 2012 at 6:42pm

    BRAVO Coach… don’t mind all the jealous,,, Eunuchs!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Flyinglow6
    Posted on April 6, 2012 at 4:35pm

    Go Razorbacks. However the coach crossed the line by having the affair with one of his employees. Can’t have a double standard but there is certainly enough to go around in sports. My opinion, the coach has already suffered humiliation, no laws were broken. I feel sorry for his family. Focus on something that really matters, grade standards and graduation success for the players.

    Report Post »  
  • johnsnare
    Posted on April 6, 2012 at 3:30pm

    Isn’t anyone happily married anymore? It seems all high profile individuals, lead a double life. Then again, there is always that feline waiting patiently in the wings. Like I usually say” all cats are grey in the dark.

    Report Post »  
  • Boots1
    Posted on April 6, 2012 at 3:14pm

    Petrino will survive this professionally because he wins games and the collective self esteem of this state (Arkansas) is directly related to the success or failure of the football team. I hope he doesn’t survive (professionally at U of A). Not because I don’t believe in forgiveness (that’s between him and his family). The real problem (if the info in the article is accurate) is that he has/had a relationship with someone he hired to a position that he has direct control over, then conveniently forgot to let his boss know about the relationship until he realized the police report was going to be made public. Very unfortunate timing for his accident because it exposes her hiring and his ethics to scrutiny. Should she be fired? I don’t know from the info provided in the AP article.

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on April 6, 2012 at 1:40pm

    Those pesky motorcycle accidents!

    Report Post »  
  • Athinkerinaseaoflibs
    Posted on April 6, 2012 at 1:29pm

    This is NOT news. If those in Professional Sports, Collegiate Football, Hollywood or in Washington did NOT figure that rules do not apply to themselves—that would be news.

    By the way, wasn’t it just this week that some state down south—may have been AR, where the court approved child molestation for high school teachers if the child was over 18?

    I am so confused?????????

    Report Post »  

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