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Paul Petrino enters his first season in the NFL after spending the past 17 years at the successful collegiate level where he garnered a hard-earned reputation for his offensive coaching prowess.
Petrino spent the past four seasons as the Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach at Louisville. Under his guidance, the Cardinals offense became one of only two NCAA Division I-A teams to rank in the top 10 nationally in total offense for the past four consecutive seasons (with Texas Tech being the other). In 49 games at Louisville, the Cardinals scored 60 or more points in seven contests with Petrino's help, and only put up less than 10 points on one occasion. The team also scored at least 40 points in more than half of their games (28 of 49).
In 2006, Louisville ranked second in total offense (476.8 yards per game), seventh in passing (286.5 yards per game) and third in scoring (38.9 points per game). Petrino also witnessed wide receiver Harry Douglas' record 70 receptions for 1,265 yards as the junior earned All-Big East first-team honors.
The Cardinals finished ninth in the nation in offense (482.1 yards per game) and third in scoring (43.3 points per game) in 2005 as six offensive players were named to the All-Big East first-team. Junior running back Michael Bush led the nation in scoring with 24 touchdowns, while wide receivers Joshua Tinch and Mario Urrutia excelled under Petrino's guidance. Tinch earned unanimous first-team All-Big East honors and Urrutia ranked second in the nation in yards per catch.
In 2004, Louisville set an NCAA record by scoring 55 or more points in five consecutive games under Petrino's offensive scheme. The Cardinals set school records for total yards, rushing yards and points in a season, scoring 50 or more points in seven games. Petrino also tutored a wide receiver corps that was one of the best in school history, featuring two-time all-conference first team performer J.R. Russell. As a junior in 2003, Russell caught 75 passes and set a school record with 1,213 yards, and followed with a 73-catch season in 2004.
Petrino had two stints in the Derby City, also coaching at Louisville from 1998-2000. In 1998, with his brother, Bobby Petrino, coaching quarterback Chris Redman, and Paul tutoring a talented stable of receivers, the Cardinals established then Louisville season records for points, scoring average, touch-downs, passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts and completions and total offense.
In Petrino's two campaigns with Louisville, WR Arnold Jackson twice established single-season school records for receptions and receiving yards on his way to becoming the NCAA I-A record-holder with 300 career receptions.
Before Louisville, Petrino spent three seasons at Utah State, where he tutored a pair of the nation's finest receivers in Kevin Alexander and Nakia Jenkins. In 1995, Alexander finished second in the country in receptions and third in receiving yards.
Prior to his time in Logan, Petrino spent three seasons at Idaho, where he coached wide receivers, running backs and special teams. As Running Backs Coach in 1992, he tutored All-American Sherriden May, who led all I-AA players in scoring with 150 points while rushing for 1,111 yards.
The 39-year-old Petrino started his coaching career serving as the Offensive Coordinator at his alma mater, Carroll College, for two seasons (1989-91) while working under his father, Bob, Sr.
The elder Petrino is a member of the NAIA Coaches' Hall of Fame and recently retired after nearly three decades as head of the Carroll program. As a player, Petrino was a four-year starter at quarterback for Carroll College from 1985-88, where he set 16 school records. As a senior, he earned Kodak All-American honors and was named the Football Gazette NAIA Division II Player of the Year. Petrino helped Carroll to a 36-6 mark and four Frontier Conference titles.
Born May 25, 1967, in Butte, Montana, Paul and his wife, Maya, have twins - Anne Mari and Mason, and baby girl, Ava. | 