Bobby Petrino Set To Become Louisville Head Football Coach

Mark BlankenbakerJanuary 8, 2014

Bobby Petrino is BACK. This afternoon, the speculation and the confirmation of what we’ve been telling you for about 2-3 days is that Bobby Petrino will be your next Head Football Coach at the University of Louisville. Petrino has been offered the Louisville job and it is expected that Petrino will accept. The ULAA (University of Lousiville Athletic Association) and the University Board are set to meet separately at 10:00 & 10:20 tomorrow to hear Tom Jurich’s recommendation and to approve of the hiring of Petrino. A public announcement would follow that approval.

Petrino was 41-9 at Louisville during a 4-year stretch between 2003-2006 and left as the all-time winning percentage coach in school history. Petrino left the Cards January 7, 2007 to take over the Atlanta Falcons.

We will keep you up to date with all of the details as they break. But here is what we know now:

-Petrino is in Bowling Green at Western Kentucky’s office right now. It is rumored that Randy Shannon will be his Defensive Coordinator and that Clint Hurtt will be retained. 12:45 p.m.

-Pete Roussel has reported that a “prominent coordinator” has already turned down an assistant job with Petrino at Louisville. 1:22 p.m.

-Bruce Feldman says that the coordinator who turned down the position at UofL is Randy Shannon, and reports that Shannon & UofL ‘will probably not happen.” 1:24 p.m.

-Rick Bozich is reporting that Bobby Petrino is meeting with WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart about his Hilltopper exit. 1:31 p.m.

-Pat Forde said that Jurich interviewed Bobby Petrino for NINE HOURS. 1:45 p.m.

-Rick Bozich has confirmed that Bobby Petrino has informed WKU that he is leaving the school to take the Louisville job. 2:12 p.m.

-We have learned that Bobby Petrino’s buyout is $1.2M and that Western Kentucky is owed a ‘home & home’ by the institution that takes him. Petrino’s Contract from WKU 2:14 p.m.

-Joe Schad is reporting that Clint Hurtt is expected to be retained. 2:18 p.m.

-We’ve learned that Bobby Petrino is bringing WR Coach Lamar Thomas with him to Louisville. Likely means Ron Dugans will not be retained (it was my personal preference to keep Dugans). LD Scott will also be on the staff in some capacity. 3:32 p.m.

-Former Louisville Head Coach John L. Smith may return to Louisville as Special Teams Coordinator. 5:24 p.m.

-It is widely reported that Bobby Petrino has accepted the Louisville Head Coaching job. 7:42 p.m.

-TCZ has learned that a team meeting has been scheduled tomorrow. 7:57 p.m.

-UofL has sent notice that a Press Conference for a special Personnel announcement for Thursday (tomorrow) at 10:30 a.m. —-8:16 p.m.

-Kolby Smith will join Bobby Petrino on Louisville’s staff (RB Coach) and Randy Shannon is still in play for Defensive Coordinator: 8:41 p.m.