Western Kentucky hires Petrino as football coach

Sports

Related Photos

Discussion

December 10, 2012

Western Kentucky hires Petrino as football coach

Anonymous Associated Press Mon Dec 10, 2012, 02:28 PM CST

NEW YORK — Western Kentucky has hired Bobby Petrino as its new football coach, said a person familiar with the decision.

The person said the former Arkansas coach is expected to be introduced at a Monday afternoon news conference. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school has not officially announced Petrino’s hiring.

The 51-year-old Petrino replaces Willie Taggart, who left WKU Saturday to become South Florida’s coach. Petrino had a 34-17 record at Arkansas and 75-26 overall in eight seasons as a college head coach.

He was fired by Arkansas in April for a “pattern of misleading” behavior following a motorcycle accident. Petrino had an affair with former Razorback volleyball player Jessica Dorrell, who he later hired as a football assistant had gave her $20,000 in gifts. Petrino said initially he was the only person on the motorcycle but later admitted to Dorrell’s presence.

Petrino has been looking to get back into coaching since his dismissal. His name was mentioned recently in connection with several openings, including Kentucky and Auburn.

Petrino returns to the state where he successfully began his head coaching career. He coached at Louisville from 2003-06, going 41-9 and leading the Cardinals to a 12-1 mark and their first-ever BCS berth in the Orange Bowl in 2006.

From there Petrino went to the NFL.

He had a brief 13-game stint in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons stumbled to a 3-10 start before Petrino left for Arkansas, announcing his departure to players in a four-sentence laminated letter attached to their lockers.

Arkansas had a losing record — 5-7 — in his first season. But Petrino and the Razorbacks improved each after that. They were to 8-5 in 2009, 10-3 with a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2010 and went 11-2 with a Cotton Bowl bid in 2011.

He takes over a 7-5 Western Kentucky team that’s headed to its first bowl appearance as an FBS school. The Hilltoppers will play in the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl on Dec. 26 against Central Michigan. WKU defensive coordinator Lance Guidry was named interim coach on Saturday will coach the team in the bowl game.

Text Only

Sports

NJCAA schedule of games
World Series activities began Friday and extend through next week at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

May 25, 2013 1 Photo
Kansas beats Cowboys
May 25, 2013
Madison's Barsness likes playing in Enid
May 24, 2013 1 Photo
Sooners zero in on Big 12
Oklahoma has made a complete turnaround in the last two days. The squad that looked dominant early in the season has re-emerged at the Big 12 tournament. The Sooners (38-19) rolled to their second straight tournament victory, thumping Texas Tech (25-30), 8-0, Friday, and improving to 2-0 in the event.
After three weeks of struggling, the team OU thought it would be surfaced. The mix of premier pitching and timely hitting was overwhelming to Baylor on Thursday and Texas Tech on Friday.
More importantly, the victories set up the Sooners’ meeting with Kansas State, which topped Baylor 13-9 Friday, at 12:30 p.m. today. The winner advances to Sunday’s championship game.

May 24, 2013 1 Photo
Ricketts, Sooners rout A&M
Keilani Ricketts beat Texas A&M with both her arm and bat Friday as No. 1-ranked Oklahoma moved to within one win of reaching the Women’s College Softball World Series by run-ruling the Aggies 10-2 at Marita Hynes Field Friday.
The Sooners (51-4) can punch their ticket to the Series by beating the Aggies at 11 a.m. today. The game can be seen on ESPN. If A&M wins, a second championship game will follow

May 24, 2013 1 Photo
Claborn pleased with WHS progress
The Deer Creek-Lamont team camp has given Waukomis football coach Jon Claborn an idea of how much his team has progressed over the past year.
A newly hired Claborn a year ago took his team to the DCLA camp with three days of spring football behind them.
“We’re leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year,’’ Claborn said. “We have looked really good ... we’re a year older, stronger, and hopefully, a year smarter.’’
The DCLA camp has offered the Chiefs good competition with teams such as defending Class B state runner-up Pond Creek-Hunter, Coyle and the host Eagles among the participants.

May 24, 2013
Travelers beat Majors in tournament opener
May 24, 2013
Sports briefs for 5-25-13
May 24, 2013
Radio-TV for 5-25-13
May 24, 2013
TCU rally beats OSU
May 24, 2013
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Western Kentucky hires Petrino as football coach

Site Map

Contact Us