Idaho to part ways with head coach Paul Petrino after season finale

Paul Petrino, the younger brother of Bobby Petrino, will not return to Idaho next season, the university announced Thursday.

Petrino will finish off Idaho’s season, which has just one last game at Idaho State this weekend before his tenure comes to a close.

Petrino took over at Idaho in 2012, after Robb Akey was fired eight games through the 2011 campaign with a 1-7 record. Since then, Petrino has gone 33-66 in his nine seasons at the helm of the Idaho Vandals. He briefly coached Idaho back into the win column in 2016, a year in which they went 9-4. However, since then, Idaho has gone 4-8, 4-7, 5-7 and 2-4. The Vandals reclassified to FCS football after the 2017 season and are now members of the Big Sky. They were off to a 3-7 start in the 2021 campaign.

Petrino was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2016 after the impressive performance, which culminated in an Idaho Potato Bowl victory. Petrino also helped Idaho coach through a conference transition; while Akey was coach, Idaho was a member of the WAC. Then, Petrino had one year as an independent before moving to the Sun Belt in 2014.

Idaho is 14-25 under Petrino since reclassifying to FCS.

“I’m very proud of all we accomplished during my time leading this program,” Petrino said in Idaho’s press release. “Maya and I remain grateful for the opportunity and will take incredible memories with us as we transition to our next endeavor. Our kids grew up here and this University and program will always hold a special place in our hearts. I want to thank our current and former players as well as every coach who has been a part of this program over the past nine years. They are what make this such a special place. I wish nothing but continued success for the current team and will always be in their corner.”

Prior to his arrival at Idaho, Petrino had never held a head coaching job, but he served a myriad of assistant coaching roles at Idaho, Utah State, Louisville, Southern Miss, Arkansas and Illinois.

He frequently served on staffs with his brother, Bobby, as they both coached in assistant capacities in their first stint in Louisville, then Paul served as an assistant on Bobby’s staff for his second stint — this time as head coach — in Louisville. He also coached under his brother Bobby when Bobby was the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

“I have nothing but the utmost respect for Paul. He is a man of integrity and strong character,” Idaho athletic director Terry Gawlik said in a press release. “He has helped hundreds of football student-athletes become better men. I am personally grateful for his loyalty to Vandal Athletics, his willingness to be a team player and the care and attention that he gave to his student-athletes.”