More than a decade after one of the most infamous coaching scandals in college football history, Bobby Petrino finds himself back in Fayetteville, older, humbled, and openly reflective about a past that still lingers over the program he once led to national relevance. Now serving as Arkansas’ interim head coach, Petrino says he is driven by something deeper than wins and losses: a desire to finish what he started, and to atone for the hurt he caused in 2012.
But in an interview, on Tuesday’s Chuck and Bo Show, he was far more emotional and far more honest.
"“I hurt everyone in the state,” Petrino said. “And I feel like I left unfinished business here.”"Bobby Petrino
From Beloved Figure to Scandal at the Center of College Football
In 2012, Bobby Petrino was not just respected in Arkansas, he was beloved. The Razorbacks had just completed back-to-back 10-win seasons, capped by a Cotton Bowl victory and a No. 5 national ranking. Petrino had Arkansas on the doorstep of SEC and national championship contention.
Then came the motorcycle accident.
What initially appeared to be a routine crash quickly unraveled into a scandal that consumed the program. The investigation revealed Petrino was having an affair with former Arkansas volleyball player Jessica Dorrell, whom he had hired for a staff position. The scandal included a $20,000 gift, misleading public statements, and a clear conflict of interest in her hiring.
The university fired Petrino for cause in April 2012. Overnight, the man who took Arkansas to the brink of national prominence became the face of one of the decade’s most damaging coaching controversies.
A Complicated Return And a Renewed Commitment
Despite everything, one truth has always remained: Bobby Petrino loves the University of Arkansas. His return to Fayetteville as offensive coordinator in 2023 under Sam Pittman proved that. When Pittman was fired following a 56–13 loss to Notre Dame in September, Petrino once again stepped into the role of head coach, this time as the interim leader of a team searching for identity and belief.
The wins have not come, but the effort and emotion from the players have. Petrino has motivated a battered roster, igniting pride and competitiveness even as the season’s record has spiraled. He has thrown himself completely into the job, embracing a locker room that was not his and working to give his players confidence amid adversity.
It is this commitment, raw, visible, and genuine, that has resonated with fans who once felt betrayed.
Hoping for a Second Chance While Staying Focused on the Present
Petrino has made no secret that he would love another full-time chance to lead Arkansas. But he has also made clear that he can’t afford to think beyond the current moment.
"“It’s certainly something that I would love to do,” Petrino said of being the permanent head coach. “But that’s not the focus right now. The focus right now is our team right here and finishing up strong.”"Bobby Petrino
The odds remain long. Most insiders expect Arkansas to pursue a fresh start after the season. Petrino’s past, fair or not, makes him a difficult long-term hire for a program still trying to restore stability.
Yet his commitment this fall; to the school, to the players, to the state, cannot be ignored. He has thrown himself into the role with the same intensity that once made him one of the most successful coaches in Razorbacks history.
The Legacy and the “What If” That Never Goes Away
Bobby Petrino’s legacy at Arkansas is complicated but undeniable. He will remain one of the most successful coaches the program has ever had, a brilliant offensive mind who brought the Razorbacks closer to the national stage than anyone in the modern era.
And the questions will always linger:
What if the scandal never happened?
What could Arkansas have become with Petrino still at the helm?
Those what-ifs now belong to history. The past unfolded the way it did, and nothing can change that. But Petrino’s return has reminded Arkansas fans of two things: his flaws were real, but so was his love for the Razorbacks.
Whether or not he stays beyond this season, his second stint has been a reminder of a coach fighting to mend his past and give everything he has left to a place that once embraced him and that he admits he once hurt.
And for Bobby Petrino, that more than anything is his unfinished business.