University of North Carolina Athletics
Petrino Named Football Offensive Coordinator
January 9, 2026 | Football
Bobby Petrino, one of the nation's top offensive minds, has been named the offensive coordinator for the North Carolina football program, head coach Bill Belichick announced Friday.
"We are fortunate to add an elite coaching talent in Bobby to our staff," said Belichick. "He brings an extensive background and a proven record of success on offense at every level of football. Bobby has consistently built great offenses everywhere he has been, and we look forward to having him work with our program."
Petrino joins the Tar Heels after spending the past two seasons at Arkansas, where he served as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach for the final seven games of 2025. A veteran coach, Petrino has experience working both in college and the NFL, and has been a head coach at the collegiate level for 18 seasons, compiling a 137-78 career record.
"I'm extremely excited to join Coach Belichick and the Carolina football program," said Petrino. "This is an incredible opportunity to work with one of the best at a storied institution. I cannot wait to get started in Chapel Hill alongside this coaching staff and student-athletes."
Nationally renowned for his work with offenses, Petrino has orchestrated top offenses at every stop of his career. Most notably, he helped develop 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time ACC Player of the Year Lamar Jackson. Under Petrino's direction, Jackson also won the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards, in addition to Associated Press, CBS Sports, The Sporting News and Walter Camp National Player of the Year honors following his breakout 2016 campaign.
The longtime coach has also produced elite, next-level talent during his career. In addition to Jackson, Petrino tutored two of the best quarterbacks in Arkansas school history in the late Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson. He also coached a trio of national award winners in Joe Adams (2011 Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers Award), DJ Williams (2010 Mackey Award and Disney Spirit Award) and Jonathan Luigs (2007 Rimington Trophy). Arkansas' top three wide receivers – Cobi Hamilton, Jarius Wright and Joe Adams – on the all-time receptions list all played under Petrino with Wright still holding the receiving yards school record with 2,934 yards.
In 2025, Arkansas ranked 19th nationally in total offense with 454.8 yards per game. The Razorbacks averaged 32.9 points per game and scored 30 or more points in eight games during the season. Arkansas was second in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and 18th in the nation in red zone offense, scoring on 91.7% of its chances. The Razorbacks also surpassed 500 yards of total offense in six games in 2025.
The Petrino File
Hometown: Lewiston, Montana
College: Carroll College, 1983 BA, Physical Education
Family: Wife, Becky; Daughters – Kelsey and Katie; Sons – Nick and Bobby
Coaching Experience
1983 Carroll College (Graduate Assistant)
1984 Weber State (Graduate Assistant)
1985-86 Carroll College (Offensive Coordinator)
1987-88 Weber State (WRs/TEs)
1989 Idaho (QBs)
1990-91 Idaho (Offensive Coordinator)
1992-93 Arizona State (QBs)
1994 Nevada (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)
1995-97 Utah State (Offensive Coordinator)
1998 Louisville (Offensive Coordinator)
1999-00 Jacksonville Jaguars (QBs)
2001 Jacksonville Jaguars (Offensive Coordinator)
2002 Auburn (Offensive Coordinator)
2003-06 Louisville (Head Coach)
2007 Atlanta Falcons (Head Coach)
2008-11 Arkansas (Head Coach)
2013 Western Kentucky (Head Coach)
2014-18 Louisville (Head Coach)
2020-22 Missouri State (Head Coach)
2023 Texas A&M (Offensive Coordinator)
2024 Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator)
2025 Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator & Interim Head Coach)
2026 North Carolina (Offensive Coordinator)
"We are fortunate to add an elite coaching talent in Bobby to our staff," said Belichick. "He brings an extensive background and a proven record of success on offense at every level of football. Bobby has consistently built great offenses everywhere he has been, and we look forward to having him work with our program."
Petrino joins the Tar Heels after spending the past two seasons at Arkansas, where he served as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach for the final seven games of 2025. A veteran coach, Petrino has experience working both in college and the NFL, and has been a head coach at the collegiate level for 18 seasons, compiling a 137-78 career record.
"I'm extremely excited to join Coach Belichick and the Carolina football program," said Petrino. "This is an incredible opportunity to work with one of the best at a storied institution. I cannot wait to get started in Chapel Hill alongside this coaching staff and student-athletes."
Nationally renowned for his work with offenses, Petrino has orchestrated top offenses at every stop of his career. Most notably, he helped develop 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time ACC Player of the Year Lamar Jackson. Under Petrino's direction, Jackson also won the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards, in addition to Associated Press, CBS Sports, The Sporting News and Walter Camp National Player of the Year honors following his breakout 2016 campaign.
The longtime coach has also produced elite, next-level talent during his career. In addition to Jackson, Petrino tutored two of the best quarterbacks in Arkansas school history in the late Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson. He also coached a trio of national award winners in Joe Adams (2011 Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers Award), DJ Williams (2010 Mackey Award and Disney Spirit Award) and Jonathan Luigs (2007 Rimington Trophy). Arkansas' top three wide receivers – Cobi Hamilton, Jarius Wright and Joe Adams – on the all-time receptions list all played under Petrino with Wright still holding the receiving yards school record with 2,934 yards.
In 2025, Arkansas ranked 19th nationally in total offense with 454.8 yards per game. The Razorbacks averaged 32.9 points per game and scored 30 or more points in eight games during the season. Arkansas was second in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and 18th in the nation in red zone offense, scoring on 91.7% of its chances. The Razorbacks also surpassed 500 yards of total offense in six games in 2025.
The Petrino File
Hometown: Lewiston, Montana
College: Carroll College, 1983 BA, Physical Education
Family: Wife, Becky; Daughters – Kelsey and Katie; Sons – Nick and Bobby
Coaching Experience
1983 Carroll College (Graduate Assistant)
1984 Weber State (Graduate Assistant)
1985-86 Carroll College (Offensive Coordinator)
1987-88 Weber State (WRs/TEs)
1989 Idaho (QBs)
1990-91 Idaho (Offensive Coordinator)
1992-93 Arizona State (QBs)
1994 Nevada (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)
1995-97 Utah State (Offensive Coordinator)
1998 Louisville (Offensive Coordinator)
1999-00 Jacksonville Jaguars (QBs)
2001 Jacksonville Jaguars (Offensive Coordinator)
2002 Auburn (Offensive Coordinator)
2003-06 Louisville (Head Coach)
2007 Atlanta Falcons (Head Coach)
2008-11 Arkansas (Head Coach)
2013 Western Kentucky (Head Coach)
2014-18 Louisville (Head Coach)
2020-22 Missouri State (Head Coach)
2023 Texas A&M (Offensive Coordinator)
2024 Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator)
2025 Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator & Interim Head Coach)
2026 North Carolina (Offensive Coordinator)
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