Ad Disclosure
Ex-Illinois assistant reportedly lands job at South Alabama
Published:
A former Illinois coach has found his way back into the FBS after a long stint in the FCS. Ex-Idaho head coach Paul Petrino has accepted a job as an offensive analyst at South Alabama according to Monday reports.
Petrino was the OC at Illinois from 2010-2011. He also spent time at Arkansas and was most recently the head coach of Idaho from 2013-2021. South Alabama finished this past season 5-7 and 2-6 in Sun Belt play.
Source: #SouthAlabama is hiring Paul Petrino, the former Idaho head coach, as an offensive analyst. Petrino spent the past nine seasons at Idaho after offensive coordinator stints at Illinois and Arkansas.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 10, 2022
South Alabama is under first-year head coach Kevin Wommack, the former Indiana DC before becoming South Alabama’s head coach. This season, Petrino at Idaho was 4-7 and 3-5 in Big Sky. Overall Petrino’s record at Idaho was 34-66 in 7 seasons with the Vandals.
When Petrino was at Illinois, the Illini were 7-6 and 4-4 in B1G play in 2010, and in 2011 they were 7-6 and 2-6 in B1G play. The Illini started 6-0 before losing their next 6 games and then winning the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA 20-14 in 2011.
South Alabama opens the 2022 season against FCS opponent Nicholls on Saturday, Sept 3.