Bobby Petrino, 62, ‘returns to Arkansas as offensive coordinator’ 11 years after his motorcycle crash led to the revelation of an affair with a 25-year-old staffer and his firing as head coach

Disgraced former Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino is reportedly returning to Fayetteville to serve as the Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator roughly a decade after a motorcycle crash led to the revelation of his affair with a program staffer.

The 62-year-old Petrino is finalizing a deal with Arkansas, according to multiple reports. ESPN notes that Petrino is still being vetted by the school, which fired him in 2012 when it was discovered he had an affair with a former Arkansas volleyball player, whom he then hired and gave a $20,000 gift.

Arkansas is coming off a disappointing 4-8 season under head coach Sam Pittman, while Petrino spent the 2023 season as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, which fired head coach Jimbo Fisher earlier this month. Petrino’s unit still managed to rank 25th in the nation at 34.2 ppg despite the Aggies’ disappointing 7-5 season.

Petrino spent 2008-11 as the Razorbacks’ coach and led them to a Cotton Bowl win in the 2011 season.

Arkansas spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for further information.

Petrino spent this year at Texas A&M. In 2012, his affair with Jessica Dorrell (right) was revealed

Despite the 2012 scandal, which included claims that Petrino lied to police about the crash, Petrino and wife Becky are apparently stilled married. According to his bio at Texas A&M: ‘Petrino and his wife, Becky, have four children: Kelsey, Nick, Bobby and Katie, along with eight grandchildren.’

Arkansas fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos midway into his first season in the role, but Pittman will return after the Razorbacks’ 4-8 campaign. Arkansas finished the season ranked 70th in the country in scoring (26.6 points per game).

The scandal unfolded in the spring of 2012 after was coming off an 11-2 season and a Cotton Bowl victory.

Initially, the motorcycle crash seemed innocuous, although Petrino was left with a neck injury and scars across his face.

He first told officers that he was alone on his bike, but it was soon revealed that he had a passenger: 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell.

Petrino and wife Becky after he was hired by the Falcons in 2007. The couple is still together 

From there, Dorrell’s knotty history with Petrino was quickly exposed.

The former volleyball player had been hired by the football program under Petrino, who had gifted her $20,000, which she used to buy a car.

Petrino was then fired ‘for cause.’

He did compileda 34-17 record in his four years at Arkansas.

Petrino also served as head coach of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons (2007) along with Louisville (2003-06, 2014-18), Western Kentucky (2013) and FCS Missouri State (2020-22).