A coaching veteran with extensive experience at all levels of football, Paul Petrino joined South Alabama in 2024 as the team's receivers coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2025.
As receivers coach, he helped lead the USA offense to one of the best statistical seasons in program history in 2024. His receiving corps caught 253 passes for 3,161 yards and 21 touchdowns on the year. The 3,161 receiving yards were the fourth-most in program history, as were the 21 receiving touchdowns and 253 receptions.
Petrino's star pupil during the 2024 campaign was
Jamaal Pritchett, who was named First Team All-Sun Belt at season's end. Under Petrino's leadership, Pritchett caught 91 passes for 1,126 yards and nine touchdowns. Pritchett's 91 receptions tied the school record for the most in a single season, as did his nine touchdowns. His 1,126 yards were the third-most in a season by a South Alabama receiver. Pritchett finished his time in Mobile with the second-most touchdown catches in program history (17), the third-most receiving yards (2,033) and the fifth-most receptions (150).
Also during the 2024 season, Petrino coached
Jeremiah Webb who was named MVP of the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. Webb caught six passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in that game to help the Jaguars defeat Western Michigan, 30-23. It was the second-straight bowl championship for South Alabama and the second in school history.
Petrino made his way to Mobile after two years at Central Michigan where he was the team's offensive coordinator.
Before running the Chippewas' offense, Petrino spent nine seasons as head coach at the University of Idaho. His most successful year was in 2016, when he was named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year after the Vandals improved to 9-4 following a 4-8 record in the previous season. Idaho finished in third place in the Sun Belt Conference with a 6-2 league record. The season concluded with a ninth win, a 61-50 victory over Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He also oversaw Idaho's move from the FBS to a return to FCS football in the Big Sky Conference in 2018.
Prior to his head coaching experience, Petrino made four different stops as an offensive coordinator. He ran Arkansas' offense on two separate occasions as well as stops at Illinois and Louisville. During that 10-year span, Petrino also spent the 2007 season in the National Football League as wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
Petrino started his coaching career at his alma mater, Carroll College, in Montana in 1990. He has also coached in various roles at Utah State and Southern Miss. Petrino played quarterback for Carroll for four seasons, and is a member of the school's athletic hall of fame. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1989.
THE PAUL PETRINO FILE
PERSONAL
Born: May 25, 1967
Hometown: Butte, Montana
Education: Carroll College, 1989
Wife: Maya
Children: Mason, Ava, and Anne Mari
PLAYING CAREER
College: Carroll College (Quarterback)
COACHING CAREER
1990-91: Carroll College (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
1992-92: Idaho (Receivers/Running Backs/Special Teams Coordinator)
1995-97: Utah State (Receivers/Special Teams Coordinator)
1998-99: Louisville (Receivers)
2000-02: Southern Miss (Quarterbacks)
2003-06: Louisville (Offensive Coordinator/Receivers)
2007: Atlanta Falcons (Receivers)
2008-09: Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator/Receivers)
2010-11: Illinois (Offensive Coordinator/Receivers)
2012: Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2013-21: Idaho (Head Coach)
2022: Central Michigan (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2023: Central Michigan (Offensive Coordinator/Receivers)
2024: South Alabama (Receivers)
2025: South Alabama (Offensive Coordinator/Receivers)
