Jojo Doria

Fayetteville, AR

Arkansas is turning to a familiar face as it looks to put the recent tumult behind in its football program, hiring John L. Smith to be its head coach.

Smith served as special teams coach the last three seasons under the recently dismissed Bobby Petrino.

Smith, who received a one-year deal worth $850,000, also coached with Petrino at Arkansas, Michigan State, Louisville and Utah State.

He left the Razorbacks program four months ago to take the reigns at Weber State.

He opted to return in the wake of Petrino's firing after the previous coach attempted to cover up a motorcycle crash in which a woman he was having an affair, Jessica Dorrell, was with him. Petrino also previously gave Dorrell a job and $20,000 in gifts.

"When coach Smith first approached me about returning to Arkansas to serve in this position, he talked about his desire to be a part of the continued success of these student-athletes, this coaching staff and the Razorback program," Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement of the hiring.

Smith said he's pleased to be returning to Fayetteville.

"I am tremendously excited to have this special opportunity to return to Arkansas and lead the Razorback football program," Smith said in a statement.

 

Arkansas Hires John L. Smith as Football Coach