Jessica Dorrell, 25, of Elkins was a member of the Arkansas Volleyball team, and was a four year letter winner for the volleyball team, while attending the University of Arkansas. She earned her MBA in 2010.
She was appointed to the position of Student Athlete Development Coordinator for the Arkansas football team March 28, just five days before Petrino’s accident.
Her starting salary is more than $55,000, university officials say. Now the man who had the job before her, made $52,000 dollars but in December received a pay raise, putting him at the same salary as Dorrell when she took over. Before Dorrell joined the football coaching staff she worked with the Razorback Foundation. She was the first female member of the fundraising staff.
In her role as Student Athlete Development Coordinator, Dorrell organizes the recruiting process for the football team, that includes initial eligibility for each incoming student athlete. She also plans and organizes all official and unofficial recruiting visits, and assists with Razorback football's daily operations.
According to Arkansas State Police, Dorrell was riding on the back of Coach Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle when he wrecked around 6:45 p.m. April 1.
The State Police report states Petrino and Dorrell were not at the scene of the accident when the trooper arrived.
The two were picked up by an Ozark couple and the man’s son as the three happened to be driving by at the time of the accident. They dropped Petrino and Dorrell off at the intersection of Hunstville and Crossover roads in Fayetteville, the report states. Dorrell left in her vehicle, and Petrino was taken to Physicians’ Specialty Hospital by State Police Capt. Lance King of Troop L, according to the report.
University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long says Dorrell didn’t appear to be injured after the accident.
Contacted by telephone Thursday, Dorrell told 5NEWS, “I’m not ready to comment at this time.”
Initially Coach Petrino did not reveal Dorrell was with him and said he was alone at the time of the accident. However, Petrino said in a statement released Thursday he was concerned about revealing that Dorell was with him at the time of the accident, saying, “I certainly had a concern about Jessica Dorrell’s name being revealed. In my press conference, I referred to her simply as ‘a lady’. My concern was to protect my family and a previous inappropriate relationship from becoming public. In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details. Today, I’ve acknowledged this previous inappropriate relationship with my family and those within the athletic department administration.”
Multiple reports indicate Dorrell was engaged to be married on June 8 to an assistant swim coach from Arkansas, but their wedding website was taken down on April 5.
Athletic Director Jeff Long says he will review the information to determine what appropriate actions will need to be taken in the case. He says he is planning to meet with Dorrell before deciding whether or not suspension or other disciplinary action should be taken against her.
