Report: Arkansas Razorbacks 'Vetting' Texas A&M Aggies Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino For Same Position

Bobby Petrino could be headed back to Arkansas for the 2024 season as Sam Pittman's new offensive coordinator.

Texas A&M offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino could be headed back to Arkansas, but not for a second stint as the Razorbacks head coach. 

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Arkansas is "vetting" hiring Petrino as the school's next offensive coordinator. During recruiting visits, Petrino indicated he was in the mix for an SEC coordinator job.

With the hiring of Duke's Mike Elko, Petrino's time in College Station was reaching its end. New coaches often like to build their own staff and start fresh with people they have a working relationship with in past experiences. 

Elko, who served as A&M's defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher from 2018-2021, did not work with Petrino during his four seasons in College Station. Hired from UNLV last offseason, Petrino's offense ranked 26th nationally in scoring (34.2 points per game) and 54th in total yards (403.8 yards per contest). 

Petrino served as head coach of the Razorbacks from 2008-11, leading the Hogs to a 51-34 record. He also led Arkansas to two top-25 finishes in the AP Poll, including reaching No. 5 in the country in 2011 following a win in the Cotton Bowl over Kansas State.   

Petrino, 62, made national headlines in April 2012 after being involved in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in northwest Arkansas on the first of the month. While Petrino told university officials he was alone on the motorcycle, it was eventually unveiled that he had a passenger in then-25-year-old Jessica Dorrell.

Texas A&M offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino embraces Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman while serving as head coach at Missouri State  / USA Today-Sports

As more information continued to unfold, school officials uncovered that Petrino was having an affair with Dorrell, whom he hired to work in the athletics department. Petrino had also given the former Arkansas volleyball player a $20,000 gift under wraps and did not tell the university of the relationship. 

Petrino was fired by then-athletic director Jeff Long on April 10, 2012. Long told reporters that Petrino "engaged in a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior" before and after the crash. 

The Razorbacks (4-8, 1-7 SEC) fired first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos following a 7-3 loss to Mississippi State in late October. Fourth-year coach Sam Pittman promoted receivers coach Kenny Guiton to interim offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season, but results only improved slightly. 

Aggies Coach Jimbo Fisher 'Not Going To Get Into' Bobby Petrino Play Calling Question

Pittman was told by athletic director Hunter Yurachek following a win over Florida International in Week 12 that he'd be retained for the 2024 season, but significant overhauls needed to be made to his staff in the offseason. 

Prior to his stop in Las Vegas and later College Station, Petrino served as head coach at Western Kentucky (2013), Louisville (2014-18) and Missouri State (2020-22). 

He was hired by Barry Odom as the Rebels' offensive coordinator before taking the job under Fisher's staff a month later.