<p>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri State coach Bobby Petrino, whose return to the sidelines was delayed until the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was named Missouri Valley Football Conference coach of the year on Thursday.</p>
<p>Petrino led the Bears to a 5-1 record, and they were co-champions in the spring conference. Missouri State, winners of just one game the previous season, had been picked to tie for ninth in a preseason poll but will open the FCS playoffs on Saturday against North Dakota.</p>
<p>Petrino edged out South Dakota State’s John Stiegelmeier to become the first Missouri State coach to win the honor since Jesse Branch won it in both 1989 and 1990.</p>
<p>The university <a href="https://apnews.com/article/1bfaeee4621131c862c1729e6c33cdb7">hired Petrino in January 2020</a> to replace Dave Steckel. Petrino came to Missouri State with a 119-56 record in 14 seasons at Louisville, Arkansas, Western Kentucky and again at Louisville. He also coached the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons for 13 games in 2007.</p>
<p>His biggest success as a college coach came at Arkansas, where he was 34-17, leading the school a No. 5 final ranking and 11 wins in 2011. Petrino was injured in a motorcycle accident that exposed an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/469f6f12684d4934985d091510ad7efe">extra-marital affair </a> with an athletic department employee, and was fired.</p>
<p>He coached Western Kentucky in 2013 before being rehired at Louisville for the 2014 season. He was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/1f907067e5d947d0918dd4f34b74e87e">fired at</a> in 2018 after a 2-8 start.</p>
