Arkansas Razorbacks Fire Bobby Petrino as Football Coach
Former Razorbacks coach involved in another off-field scandal
Petrino fired after acknowledging improper relationship with athletic department employee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas fired football coach Bobby Petrino on Tuesday, less than a week after he was put on paid leave following a motorcycle accident that revealed he was riding with a 25-year-old woman who is not his wife.
Athletic director Jeff Long said Petrino was fired for "a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior."
Long said the decision to fire Petrino was made after an internal investigation found that he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with the woman, Jessica Dorrell, who was hired as a student-athlete development coordinator in March 2012.
Long said Petrino initially lied to him about the nature of his relationship with Dorrell, but later acknowledged that they had been involved in a romantic relationship for several months.
Long said Petrino's behavior violated the university's athletic department policy, which prohibits employees from engaging in romantic relationships with students or other employees who report to them.
Petrino was hired by Arkansas in December 2007 and led the Razorbacks to a 34-17 record in four seasons, including a 10-3 mark in 2011.
However, his tenure at Arkansas was marred by off-field incidents, including a DUI arrest in 2006 while he was the coach at Louisville.
The firing of Petrino is the latest in a series of scandals that have plagued the Arkansas football program in recent years.
In 2007, former coach Houston Nutt was fired after he was accused of lying to university officials about the involvement of his players in a brawl with LSU fans.
In 2010, former coach John L. Smith was fired after one season after he went 4-8.
The Razorbacks are now scheduled to open the 2012 season on Sept. 1 at home against Jacksonville State.
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, Bobby's brother, has been named the interim head coach.
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