Arkansas fills position previously held by Dorrell

Eight months after resigning her position on the Arkansas football staff, Jessica Dorrell has landed a new job after moving to South Carolina. She is shown here at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in March.

Eight months after resigning her position on the Arkansas football staff, Jessica Dorrell has landed a new job after moving to South Carolina. She is shown here at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in March.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

— Arkansas has hired former University of Washington and USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt to handle its on-campus recruiting, a job formerly handled by the mistress of ex-coach Bobby Petrino.

Holt was the defensive coordinator at Washington from 2009-11 and at Southern California from 2006-08; from 2001-03, he was the linebackers coach at USC when the Trojans won the 2003 national championship. He previously worked with Arkansas coach John L. Smith at Idaho and at Louisville.

"Nick Holt is a tremendous addition to our program," Smith said Wednesday. "He will be able to come in here and fit well within our staff, and he brings a tremendous amount of football knowledge. He is great interacting with student-athletes and truly wants to put them in a position to succeed. I have no doubt Nick will be successful in this role for us."

The job was held by Jessica Dorrell earlier this year. She resigned after her affair with Petrino came to light following their motorcycle crash, a scandal that also cost him his job.

Holt will organize recruiting for the team, including initial eligibility for each incoming athlete. The former linebacker at the University of Pacific holds a bachelor's degree in political economics.