According to a report from Trey Schaap, Arkansas football has found its next head coach. He reports that the Razorbacks will hire current USF head coach and former Josh Heupel Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh as the new Head Hog.
This does mean that the second stint for Arkansas under Bobby Petrino would come to a close this Saturday. With the Razorbacks well out of bowl contention at 2-9 (0-7 SEC), the home game against Missouri will wrap up his tenure with the program as interim head coach.
On Wednesday, with the report of Golesh being released, Petrino released a statement on his X:
“Razorback Family,
“Second chances are hard to come by in this business, and I know how rare it is to return to a place that has always meant so much. Being back on the Arkansas sideline has been both an honor and a privilege, and I’ve appreciated every day of it.
“No matter how this weekend turns out, my pride in this team won’t change. These players showed up, went to work, faced adversity the right way, and stayed committed to each other. That’s all any coach can ask for. I’m equally proud of our staff, who never settled for excuses and instead showed up every day, kept the standard high, and gave these players every ounce they had.
“And to the Razorback fans, THANK YOU! You welcomed me back with the same pride and passion that make this place so unique. You stood by this team, you showed up, and you reminded me why Arkansas isn’t just a job – it’s a family.
“Whatever the future holds, I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to lead this team again and to be a part of the Arkansas community once more. From my family to yours, I wish everyone a safe and blessed Thanksgiving.
“With respect and appreciation,
“Bobby Petrino
“WPS”
Thank you, Razorback Nation!! #WPS pic.twitter.com/jI5xi7UqT6
— Bobby Petrino (@CoachBPetrino) November 26, 2025
More From RTI: Report: Former Josh Heupel Assistant Coach Returning To SEC As Head Coach
Since taking over as interim coach, Petrino had lost six straight games. The first of the stretch was to Tennessee in Neyland Stadium, though he got the team within three points of a win. That’s largely been the story of his tenure as interim coach. He’s gotten close to knocking off Texas A&M, Mississippi State and LSU, as well, but has fallen just short in each matchup.
He hasn’t necessarily been dealt a great hand, either. He took over for a team led by Sam Pittman that sat at 2-3 with wins over Alabama A&M and Arkansas State and losses to Ole Miss, Memphis and Notre Dame.
Petrino was in the hopes of proving his worth to take over full-time again, but Arkansas ultimately has seemingly decided the best route was an outside hire. In Petrino’s first stint as head coach in Fayetteville, he led the Razorbacks to an 11-2 record in year four, but was fired amidst numerous scandals.
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