Bobby Petrino’s Saga Will End With Another Head Coaching Position

ESPN.com reporter Joe Schad conducted a one-on-one interview with Bobby Petrino

, the former Arkansas head coach’s first public address since he was fired in April. A skeptical approach is that Petrino’s emotional apology was a necessary step on the road back to coaching. Petrino did specifically mention his handling of an affair with Jessica Dorrell in the context of coaching, after all.

There is also a recent theme of image reinvention occurring in the coaching ranks. Maligned in Knoxville, Lane Kiffin appeared on radio there earlier this week praising the Tennessee program and expressing understanding for Volunteers’ outrage over his departure. Arizona State head coach Todd Graham appears in FOX Sports’ “In My Own Words” series, a possible response to the criticism heaped on him for leaving Pitt without notifying the team.

Perhaps Petrino is genuinely sorry. Sometimes hitting rock bottom is the necessary catalyst one needs to instill humility. No one writing, talking, tweeting about Petrino’s apology can know his true sentiment. Only Petrino can know for certain. Jobs come and go; Kiffin and Graham may face criticism for their one-year departures, but ultimately they made choices they believed were best for their futures. And as for Petrino, he can, will get another job. Replacing family is another matter.

Yes, Petrino will coach again. That’s an obvious statement, considering that even coaches with show causes levied on them like basketball’s Kelvin Sampson find gigs relatively quickly. But Petrino won’t be a coordinator; at least, not long term. He will be a head coach again at the Division I, Bowl Subdivision level. He’s too good not to.

Under his guidance, Louisville became an annual top 10 team that was a Michael Bush injury from playing for the BCS championship. Petrino took over an Arkansas program spinning its wheels under Houston Nutt and built it into an offensive juggernaut capable of competing with heavyweights Alabama and LSU in the treacherous SEC West.

Winning football is a cash printing press for university athletic departments, and it creates a trickle down effect that benefits the entire university and even surrounding community. His football acumen makes him invaluable, and any negative connotations that come with his hiring are likely outweighed by the piles of money his leadership brings.

That said, his hire is a risk. Petrino was not fired for having an affair. It’s an indiscretion, absolutely, but on its own not an issue that would make a proven commodity like Petrino a gamble. Petrino was fired for giving Dorrell a university athletic department a position. No issue is more hot button in the current college football landscape than programs becoming bigger than the university, and a head coach hiring his young mistress to a prominent job would qualify.

The Arkansas situation is certainly unique, and this week became more so when Dorrell’s vacated position was (possibly) filled with the hire of Nick Holt. Razorbackers.com talked Holt-to-the-Hogs, pointing out the coaching staff is full. You may remember Holt from his days as an assistant at USC, and more recently as defensive coordinator at Washington looking very much capable of playing middle linebacker for the Huskies. Friend of the Blog Aaron Torres has more on that.

Indeed, the university that hires Petrino is plucking him from bizarre circumstances and thus, ensures itself a media circus and scrutiny initially. His presence means attention, which might prompt a lower conference program to pursue him. Mark Ennis tweeted UCF, a university that previously took a chance with its hire of George O’Leary. The Golden Knights face NCAA sanctions, partially due to the violations an O’Leary assistant committed. The university was also found $10 million liable in the wrongful death suit filed by the family of running back Ereck Plancher. UCF may be wary of another redemption story should it part ways with O’Leary.

What about Tennessee? If Derek Dooley fails to right the ship, a coach with a successful SEC track record would make sense for the Vols. And after UT Hall of Famer Phil Fulmer was rumored in association with the Arkansas vacancy, what could be a more brilliant reverse troll — not that university athletic departments are concerned with such matters.