Fayetteville, AR (Sports Network) - In December 2007, Bobby Petrino became head football coach at the University of Arkansas in a cloud of controversy.
Less than five years later, he exited the same way.
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long announced at a press conference Tuesday night that Petrino has been relieved of his duties for "abusing his authority" and "jeopardizing the integrity of the football program" following the aftermath of his motorcycle accident on April 1.
Petrino suffered a cracked vertebrae and four broken ribs in the accident, but did more damage by concealing a female employee of the Arkansas athletic department was riding on his motorcycle at the time of the incident.
Though his family released a statement saying he was riding alone, the third page of a four-page collision report released last Thursday by the Arkansas State Police listed Jessica Dorrell, 25, as a passenger on the motorcycle with him.
Shortly before the incident in question, Dorrell beat out 159 candidates for a position on Petrino's staff, according to Long.
The 51-year-old Petrino, who is married with four children, did not disclose Dorrell's presence until last Thursday, just hours before he was put on paid administrative leave for his error in judgement.
On Tuesday, Long claimed Petrino "knowingly misled" the investigation and had multiple opportunities to rectify his mistake, leading to his firing "with cause."
The athletic director stated Petrino and Dorrell's inappropriate relationship "gave her an unfair advantage for a position in Petrino's staff," saying it was a conflict of interest.
Long also revealed Petrino and Dorrell has been involved for a "significant period of time" and that Dorrell was once given $20,000 by the coach.
Though the relationship did not violate university policy, Long was adamant Petrino had "abused his authority over the past few weeks...(and) jeopardized the integrity of the football program."
As the search for Petrino's successor begins, assistant Taver Johnson will serve as the Razorbacks' interim head coach through spring practice.
Petrino, who was signed through 2017 at $3.56 million per year, went 34-17 in Fayetteville and guided the program to an 11-2 mark and a Cotton Bowl win over Kansas State this past season. He is one of only three coaches to lead two different programs to a BCS bowl.
He guided Louisville to the 2007 Orange Bowl, then had a shortened stint with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons that ended more abruptly than his time at Arkansas.
Petrino infamously quit on the Falcons with three games remaining in his first and only season and informed his players he was taking over at Arkansas with a note in their lockers.
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