FAYETTEVILLE — Paul Petrino was ready for a fresh start, some freedom and what many coaches refer to as “the honeymoon.”
He heard feedback during the season all around the country, especially when his name popped up as a candidate for the head coaching job at Western Kentucky. Sure, you’ve done great coaching receivers at Arkansas on your brother’s staff, but just how much credit do you deserve for the Razorbacks’ explosive offense as its offensive coordinator?
After all, Bobby Petrino called all the plays and Paul had yet to prove himself as an offensive coordinator outside of his seven years alongside his big brother at Louisville, Arkansas and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
“There’s probably some truth to that,” Paul Petrino said. “More than anything, being with my brother, I got to learn from the best. I wanted to stay with him long enough until I felt really comfortable of going out on my own and doing it on my own. That's the point I got to, and so it's time to go do it.”
So he left Arkansas on Dec. 14 to take the offensive coordinator position at Illinois for the embattled Ron Zook. On thin ice, and facing a losing record just two years removed from an appearance in the BCS, Zook overhauled his offensive staff and pursued Paul Petrino.
Many questioned whether Paul Petrino should really leave Arkansas, which looks poised for a deep run in 2010 with 17 starters returning and an offense loaded with weapons, including record-setting quarterback Ryan Mallett.
“It's hard to leave a place you really like and your family liked, but it's also an exciting time to start a new chapter in your life and go after it,” Paul Petrino said.
And a couple of familiar faces made his decision to leave the Southeastern Conference for the Big Ten a bit easier to swallow. Former Louisville assistants Jeff Brohm and Greg Nord, who spent three and four years respectively alongside the Petrino brothers, were hired on two days after Paul Petrino arrived at Illinois.
“That probably made it as attractive as anything to come here,” Paul Petrino said.
Paul Petrino still isn’t settled in Champaign, Ill. He’s been on the recruiting trail and in the coaching offices during his first month in the Land of Lincoln. He’s focused mainly on his returning players on offense and recruiting the north, rather than the scouring the south where he had made a name for himself as Arkansas’ go-to recruiter in Florida.
Linebackers coach Dan Disch, who interacted with Paul Petrino several times as a high school coach in the early 2000s, figures to handle those duties at Illinois.
There have been pit stops on the road, though. Paul Petrino returned to Fayetteville to spend Christmas with his wife and three kids, who will be moving to Champaign after signing day Feb. 3.
The Illinois coach, however, did not have a chance to see his brother, Bobby, during his return to Fayetteville. His big brother, Paul Petrino said, was busy preparing Arkansas for a trip to the Liberty Bowl.
Bobby Petrino jokingly called his young brother “the enemy” during bowl preparations in Memphis on Jan. 1. That’s true now, especially on the recruiting trail.
At least two of Paul Petrino’s former recruits while at Arkansas — Greenwood receiver Spencer Harris and athlete Brandon Denmark of Tallahassee (Fla.) Rickards — will be visiting Illinois as prospects this month.
Bobby Petrino was asked Jan. 1 if his younger brother still had a seat at the dinner table after leaving Arkansas.
“I guess it depends on whether we beat him in recruiting or not,” Bobby Petrino said. “Nah, I’m just kidding. I’ve actually talked to him. He’s doing good.”
Paul Petrino described his relationship with his brother as “good” after leaving the Razorbacks.
“It’s probably hard right when you leave, but I'll always wish the best for him and I'm sure he will for me,” Paul Petrino said. “We've coached at different schools as much as we have together.
“I’m sure every Saturday night, I'll hope we win and they win. It'll be a good day.”
Familiar and similar
Kris Cinkovich said his coaching style is similar to Paul Petrino's.
And it’s not hard to believe the new receivers coach, who replaced Petrino at Arkansas. Cinkovich coached Petrino for two seasons at Carroll College in Montana and also coached alongside him for a season.
“I believe we both bring a great deal of enthusiasm to the game,” Cinkovich said after his hiring last week. “My teaching style may be a little different. ... I think he's an excellent coach. I also think I'm going to bring my own style to this group of receivers that will allow [them] to take another step to get better.”
Paul Petrino’s enthusiasm was apparent every day during his two years at Arkansas. He’d line up alongside receivers, chase them down field with instructions and critiques, and his group always had the most uptempo regime during practice sessions.
Expect more of the same from Cinkovich.
“I think the world of Cink,” Petrino said. “He'll do a great job there. That was an excellent hire.”
Keeping in touch
Paul Petrino hasn’t been completely out of touch since he left Arkansas.
It was hard for him to attend the Liberty Bowl for several reasons, one which included the emotional ties and relationships he developed with his group of receivers.
But he’s kept in contact with several players, including receivers Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs. He texted a few Arkansas players wishing them good luck the night before the Hogs’ 20-17 overtime victory against East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.
“We built something there,” Paul Petrino said. “You saw everybody come together and get better, finish the year off great and they got a bowl win. I was happy for them and I'll be rooting for those guys all throughout their careers.”
Petrino hopes to talk with his former players more frequently after the recruiting season ends.
He also had the ear of Mallett after leaving Arkansas for Illinois, but there was little to no talk concerning Mallett’s then-impending battle whether to return to Arkansas or pursue an NFL career.
“I just told him all along that I thought he should come back,” Paul Petrino.
And his reaction to the news Friday that Mallett was, indeed, coming back for an encore after setting or trying 16 school records?
“I was really happy. I couldn't have been happier,” Paul Petrino said. “I was happy for Arkansas and I was also happy for Ryan because that's definitely what I thought he should do. It was the best for him and the school.”
The former Arkansas coach will certainly be watching the Hogs next season while he attempts to turn around an Illinois offense and help lead the Illini to a bowl.
“If they keep grinding and working hard like they have, they should be right in the thick of it and hopefully have a great season,” Paul Petrino said of Arkansas. “It's like any year, everyone in that league is talented and good. They've got a lot of good players back.
“I hope they win it all. That's what I'll be rooting for.”