In this crazy world of sports, never say never.
According to multiple reports, Arkansas has is looking to hire former head coach [autotag]Bobby Petrino[/autotag] as the school’s next offensive coordinator.
First, ESPN’s Pete Thamel tweeted that the Razorbacks were “vetting hiring” Petrino. This is because Petrino was fired “for cause” back in 2012 and isn’t allowed to be re-hired without authorization from UA System President Dr. Donald Bobbitt. If he is Arkansas pick for offensive coordinator, this is a big hurdle they’ll need to clear first.
Shortly after Thamel’s tweet, 247Sports.com’s Trey Biddy – an extremely reliable Arkansas insider – tweeted that he has “very good reason to believe Bobby Petrino will be the next Arkansas offensive coordinator.”
I now have very good reason to believe Bobby Petrino will be the new Arkansas offensive coordinator. Nothing signed yet I'm told, but the deal is in the works. #wps
— Trey Biddy (@TreyBiddy) November 28, 2023
Following Petrino’s infamous departure from Fayetteville over a decade ago, he’s bounced around coaching quite a bit. He’s had stops at Western Kentucky, a reunion in Louisville and a three-year stint at Missouri State. Fans will quickly remember how Petrino’s Missouri State team came into Razorback Stadium in 2022 and nearly knocked off the Hogs.
The 62-year old spent last season as Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator. That came after he took the UNLV offensive coordinator job for just two weeks, before jumping to College Station.
UPDATE:
At 3:31 p.m. ESPN’s Chris Low reported that Bobby Petrino has agreed to return to Arkansas as offensive coordinator and that a deal was being finalized.
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
As of 6:50 p.m. there has been no official announcement from the school.