( CNN ) -- Bobby Petrino has been fired as head football coach at the University of Arkansas , the school 's athletics director said Tuesday . Petrino 's lack of candor about his `` personal and professional relationship '' with a female employee who was riding with him on a motorcycle that crashed earlier this month was key to the decision , Jeff Long told reporters . `` Coach Petrino knowingly misled the athletics department and the university about the circumstances related to his accident , '' Long said in a news conference at the university 's baskeball arena in Fayetteville . Though the 51-year-old coach had `` multiple opportunities '' over four days after the accident to be forthcoming , `` he chose not to . '' Petrino had been placed on paid administrative leave last week after it was revealed he had not disclosed that Jessica Dorrell , a 25-year-old female member of his staff , was on his motorcycle with him when it crashed on April 1 and that he had given her unfairly favorable treatment in hiring her on his staff . Long said Petrino had been fired with cause , meaning the university is not obligated to pay out his contract . University Chancellor G. David Gearhart issued a statement Tuesday saying the coach 's contract `` establishes a process by which he may have his termination decision reviewed . Under that process , the review would ultimately come to me for consideration and action . `` Given my role in the review process as chancellor , I must decline further comment on today 's announcement . '' Petrino issued a statement Tuesday night saying he takes responsibility for what happened and apologizing for , among other things , putting Long `` in the position of having to sort through my mistakes . '' `` The simplest response I have is : I 'm sorry , '' Petrino said in the statement . `` These two words seem very inadequate . But that is my heart . All I have been able to think about is the number of people I 've let down by making selfish decisions . I 've taken a lot of criticism in the past . Some deserved , some not deserved . This time , I have no one to blame but myself . '' Petrino also said , `` I have hurt my wife , Becky , and our four children . I 've let down the University of Arkansas , my team , coaching staff and everyone associated with the Razorback football program . '' He also said his `` sole focus at this point is trying to repair the damage I 've done to my family . They did not ask for any of this and deserve better . I am committed to being a better husband , father and human being as a result of this and will work each and every day to prove that to my family , friends and others . '' Long said his review of the case `` raised several concerns which led me to look beyond the accident itself , '' Long said , citing `` the process and circumstances that influenced his decision to hire ( Dorrell ) as a direct-report member of his staff , and his candor and behavior as a member of my staff . '' Long said Petrino had had a `` consensual relationship '' with Dorrell , and that Petrino had given Dorrell `` some $ 20,000 '' and failed to disclose their relationship when recommending her for the job with the department , thereby giving her `` an unfair and undisclosed advantage for a position on his football staff . '' Dorrell , Long said , was one of 159 applicants for the job . `` By itself , Coach Petrino 's consensual relationship with Miss Dorrell prior to her joining the football staff was not against university policy , '' Long said . `` By itself , it 's a matter between individuals and their families . `` However , in this case , Coach Petrino abused his authority when over the past few weeks he made a staff decision and personal choices that benefited himself '' and compromised the university , Long said . He said Petrino also `` engaged in a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior designed to deceive me and members of the athletics staff both before and after the accident , '' Long said . Petrino told the police investigating the crash that the sun and wind had caused him to lose control and crash into a pile of dirt and tree limbs on the side of the road , according to the police report . `` He made a choice to return to practice ( last ) Tuesday , to hold a press conference and to demonstrate his physical resiliency and command of his program , all the time failing to correct the initial report that he was the only person involved in the accident . He made a conscious decision to speak and mislead the public on Tuesday . '' In four seasons as head coach , Petrino led the Razorbacks to a 34-17 record , including an 11-2 record last season that included a victory in the Cotton Bowl . Arkansas finished the season ranked among the top five college teams in the nation . CNN 's Nick Valencia contributed to this report .
NEW : `` The simplest response I have is : " You are not the only one who has a problem with this. Petrino `` knowingly misled the athletics department and the university , '' AD says . He calls Petrino 's behavior `` reckless and unacceptable '' Petrino had been placed on paid administrative leave last week .