John L Smith: 10 Things To Know About Bobby Petrino's Replacement At Arkansas

The University of Arkansas has hired Weber State head coach John L. Smith to replace ex-head coach Bobby Petrino on an interim basis, specifically on a 10-month contract, according to CBS Sports. The search for a new head coach ends days after Petrino was fired on April 10 because of lying about an inappropriate relationship with Jessica Dorrell, a 25-year-old football program staffer.

Some may have liked a more high-profile coach to step in and take the reins, but, at the same time, Smith also makes sense because he once served as special teams and outside linebackers coach at Arkansas for the 2009-10 seasons under Petrino, who he had worked with at four different schools to boot. Ironically enough, Petrino was the one who replaced Smith as head coach of Louisville in 2003.

The 63-year-old Smith, still, has some big shoes to fill. Petrino went 21-5 in his last two seasons at Arkansas, molding the Razorbacks into a BCS championship contender. Luckily, Arkansas is expected to compete for both the SEC and national titles this year with the majority of the core team returning.

Smith may be flying under the radar a little, so here are 10 more quick things to know about Arkansas's newest head coach:

  • Smith was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Nov. 15, 1948
  • He played linebacker and quarterback for Weber State from 1968-1970
  • He began his head coaching career at Idaho from 1989-1994, and now holds the Idaho record for wins (53)
  • He has 12 seasons of FBS head coaching experience: he went 16-18 in three seasons at Utah State (1995-1997), 41-21 in five seasons at Louisville (1998-2002) and 22-26 in four seasons at Michigan State (2003-2006)
  • He was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2003 after posting the most wins by a first-year coach in Michigan State history (8-4)
  • In 2000, Sports Illustrated recognized him as one of Idaho's top 100 athletes of the 20th century, according to his profile while at MSU
  • He was inducted into the Idaho Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001
  • Smith married Diana Flora on Aug. 15, 1970, and the two have three children, Nicholas, Kayse and Sam
  • He is the uncle of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith
  • Weber State, Smith's alma mater, hired him as its head coach in December, so he leaves without ever having coached a game there

MUST READ:

Bobby Petrino And Jessica Dorrell: Over 7,000 Texts Sent, How Long Were They Hiding The Affair? New Notes Emerge

Jessica Dorrell Pictures: Bobby Petrino's Mistress Resigns For $14K

Bobby Petrino Wreck: School Lands $1.5 Million Gift For Handling of Jessica Dorrell Scandal[PHOTO]

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino's Ex-Mistress Used $20,000 To Purchase Car

Firing Bobby Petrino Pays Off For Arkansas: School Gets $1.25M Gift For Athletic Director's 'Courageous Leadership'[PHOTO]

Alison Melder Denies Being Bobby Petrino's Mistress

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino's Ex-Mistress Used $20,000 To Purchase Car

Bobby Petrino's Ex-Mistress Jessica Dorrell Placed On Paid Administrative Leave

Bobby Petrino Going to Sex Rehab After Affair with Mistress Jessica Dorrell, Text Exchanges with Alison Melder?[PHOTOS]

Jessica Dorrell NOT Fired by Arkansas, on Paid Leave After Affair with Bobby Petrino

Jessica Dorrell: Photos of Bobby Petrino's Mistress that he Hired[PHOTOS]

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino's Ex-Mistress put on Paid Leave by the University of Arkansas

Bobby Petrino's Wife: Nude Photos Could be Last Straw for Becky Petrino [PICTURES]

Bobby Petrino: Who Could He Get Lucky With On Friday The 13th? [PHOTOS]

Bobby Petrino: Text Messages Contain Concern for His Job

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino's Ex-Mistress put on Paid Leave by the University of Arkansas

Alison Melder Photos: The Bikini Model that Bobby Petrino Exchanged Text and Picture Messages With[PHOTOS]

Bobby Petrino: Jessica Dorrell, Alison Melder and Becky Petrino Photos - The Women Linked to the Former Arkansas Coach[PHOTOS]

Alison Melder: Pictures, Facts About Bobby Petrino's Model "Friend" [PHOTOS]

Jessica Dorrell Pictures with Fiance Josh Morgan AND Bobby Petrino [PHOTOS]

Who is Jessica Dorrell? Pictures and Details of the Arkansas Woman Involved in a College Football Scandal[PHOTOS]

Alison Melder: Pictures of Bobby Petrino's Mistress and Former Model [PHOTOS]

Bobby Petrino: Former Arkansas Coach Won't Appeal Dismissal After Jessica Dorrell Affair

Jessica Dorrell: Fiancé Josh Morgan Still Working At University

Jessica Dorrell, Bobby Petrino Texted 84 Times One Day; More Than 4,300 Over 7 Months[PHOTO]

Bobby Petrino Jessica Dorrell Affair: Parodied by Taiwanese Animators [PHOTO+VIDEO]

Ex-Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino And Jessica Dorrell: A Timeline Of Conversations

Jessica Dorrell: Fiancé Josh Morgan Still Working at the University of Arkansas [Photo]

Jessica Dorrell: Photos Of Bobby Petrino's Ex-Mistress[PHOTOS]

Bobby Petrino's Wife Pictures: Becky Petrino Photos, the Woman the Arkansas Coach Cheated on with Jessica Dorrell[PHOTOS]

Bobby Petrino Nude Photos: Former Coach Reportedly Sent Jessica Dorrell Naked Pictures

Jessica Dorrell: Arkansas Fans Plan Rally In Support of Bobby Petrino

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino Paid $20,000 to Dorrell, Gave Her 'Undisclosed Advantage'

Bobby Petrino Unjustly Fired for Affair with Mistress Jessica Dorrell[VIDEO]

Bobby Petrino: Who Is Jessica Dorrell, Passenger In Arkansas Coach's Motorcycle Accident?

Bobby Petrino: Head Football Coach Of The University Of Arkansas Razorbacks Involved In Motorcyle Accident

Bobby Petrino: Photos of his Wife Becky and Mistress Jessica Dorrell[PHOTOS]

Becky Petrino: 8 Facts About Bobby Petrino's Wife

Jessica Dorrell Scandal Should Doom Bobby Petrino's Future Job Prospects

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino Paid $20,000 to Dorrell, Gave Her 'Undisclosed Advantage'

Bobby Petrino Fired For Relationship With Jessica Dorrell

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino's Fate Depends On Importance of Winning Over Morals

Bobby Petrino Fired: Arkansas' Head Coach Shouldn't Lose His Job Over Affair with Jessica Dorrell

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino Placed on Administrative Leave For 'Inappropriate Relationship'

Jessica Dorrell: Bobby Petrino Admits 'Inappropriate Relationship' With Female Passenger

Bobby Petrino: Arkansas Coach Suffered Broken Ribs, Strained Neck

Jessica Dorrell: Police Say Female Passenger Rode With Bobby Petrino During Motorcycle Crash

Bobby Petrino Press Conference: Live Stream Online, Where to Watch

Jessica Dorrell Fiance, Josh Morgan, No Longer on Arkansas Website

Jessica Dorrell, Josh Morgan Wedding Site 'Defaced' After Petrino Admits 'Inappropriate Relationship'

Real Time Analytics