By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino’s professed goal to become a head coach may be within reach.
Petrino, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino’s younger brother, was on Western Kentucky’s campus a few hours after the Razorbacks’ 42-21 win against Mississippi State in Little Rock. The Hilltoppers are searching for a new coach after David Elson was fired earlier this month.
Petrino was coy earlier in the afternoon when asked whether Western Kentucky would give him that opportunity, but the school’s student newspaper reported that Petrino landed at the airport in Bowling Green, Ky., shortly after 6 p.m.
Petrino was on a plane registered to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the College Heights Herald said. The article also said Petrino was picked up by Alex Downing, director of the Hilltopper Foundation and member of the search committee, and was the only passenger who joined Downing in the car.
Petrino and Downing declined comment, but there have been reports in recent days that linked the coach to the Western Kentucky opening.
Petrino did not deny the possibility when asked minutes after Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs.
He never mentioned Western Kentucky by name, but said he was “flattered” by consideration from the program.
“That’s something, any time a great program like that is interested in you, it makes you feel good and you’re flattered,” Petrino said. “I said the day I got here my goal in life is to be a head coach some day. That’s just something you’ve got to let play out and see.
“But right now, my job is to beat LSU next week.”
When asked if he had spoken with the school, Petrino said “not really.” He was apparently on a plane bound for Western Kentucky a few minutes later.
Western Kentucky, which has lost 18 straight games, is 0-10 in its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivison.
According to data compiled by the USA Today on coaching salaries, Elson, who is still coaching the team through the rest of the season, earned $259,808. Petrino is making roughly $300,000 as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator.
