The general belief about former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino is that he would end up back on the sidelines before too long, although not likely at a big-time program. If the following reports come to fruition, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Chad Bishop of the Bowling Green Daily News reported Monday morning that Petrino was on the campus of Western Kentucky, and then later reported that Petrino was to be named the Hilltoppers’ new coach at 4 p.m. ET today. Adam Himmelsbach of the Louisville Courier-Journal and CBSSports later confirmed the report.
Petrino would be back on the sidelines after just eight months away from the game. Petrino was fired by Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long this past spring for hiring his mistress, Jessica Dorrel, for an athletic department position and lying about her presence during a single-vehicle motorcycle accident involving Petrino.
Petrino’s name has been connected to a handful of job openings over the past several weeks, including Kentucky, Auburn and Arkansas State. Petrino will replace Willie Taggart, who left to take the same job with South Florida.