Petrino's father: 'He's interested in Kentucky'

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --1/6/12--
Bobby Petrino argues a call with the officials after a penalty on a field goal which forced the Razorbacks to punt instead.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --1/6/12-- Bobby Petrino argues a call with the officials after a penalty on a field goal which forced the Razorbacks to punt instead.

The father of former University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino says his son is interested in the now-open head coaching position at Kentucky.

Speaking to The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., Bobby Petrino Sr. said the disgraced former leader of the Razorbacks has been wanting to get back into coaching.

"I just know this, that he's interested in Kentucky," the father told the Courier-Journal's Adam Himmelsbach. "He wants to stay in the SEC. That was his life's goal was to go to the SEC."

The younger Petrino has experience in the Bluegrass State. Before his arrival at Arkansas, he spent four seasons as head coach at Louisville, leading the Cardinals to an Orange Bowl victory during the 2006 season.

Bobby Petrino Jr. was fired from his UA post in April after a motorcycle accident later revealed he was in an extramarital relationship with an employee in the athletics office, Jessica Dorrell. His contract was terminated after it was discovered that he had recently hired Dorrell for a position in his office over hundreds of other qualified applicants.

Yahoo! Sports earlier reported that Kentucky would not consider him for the opening, which came after Joker Phillips was fired on Sunday following a 40-0 home loss to Vanderbilt. The Wildcats are 1-9 this season, including a 0-7 mark in the Southeastern Conference.

Petrino was 34-17 in four seasons at Fayetteville, with an appearance in the Sugar Bowl during the 2010 season.

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