Petrino ‘Crisis Lands UA National Public Relations Award

The response to the 2012 soap opera involving former University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino has earned the university a national award.

The school earned an honor for “Best Crisis Management” in PR Daily’s 2013 Nonprofit PR Awards.

The award, according to a UA news release, is for the school’s response to the Petrino crisis in 2012, and reflects the way athletics director Jeff Long, working with the public relations professionals in the athletics department and office of university relations, handled that crisis.

“The way Jeff Long explained his decision to fire a popular coach exemplified leadership skills and drew nationwide praise,” PR Daily said in announcing the award.

Petrino coached the UA football team for four seasons, but had his contract terminated in April 2012 when revelations came to light that he had an inappropriate relationship with a 25-year-old female member of the football support staff.