The University of Arkansas has puts its head football coach , Bobby Petrino , on paid administrative leave after news that the passenger on the motorcycle he crashed this week was a 25-year-old female member of his staff . Petrino , 51 , said Thursday that he had not initially divulged the presence of the passenger , Jessica Dorrell , in an effort to protect his family and avoid `` a previous inappropriate relationship from becoming public , '' according to a statement obtained by CNN affiliate KARK . The motorcycle crash took place Sunday , but the involvement of Dorrell -- a former Arkansas women 's volleyball player who was recently named student athlete coordinator for the university 's football team -- came to light after a police report was released . `` In hindsight , I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details , '' Petrino said Thursday in the statement , as reported by KARK . Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said at a news conference Thursday that he had put Petrino on paid administrative leave while the university reviews the full extent of the motorcycle accident and those involved . Petrino apologized to his wife and four children , the university , his colleagues , students and `` the entire state of Arkansas . '' He said he hoped to repair relationships with his family and the university and remain head coach of the Razorbacks . Petrino told the police that the sun and wind had caused him to lose control of the motorcycle and crash into a pile of dirt and tree limbs on the side of the road , according to the police report .
The University of Arkansas ' head football coach crashed his motorcycle . The passenger on the motorcycle was a year - old female member of his family . The university puts him on an administrative leave while it investigates . Petrino apologizes to his family and says he hopes to keep his job .