A Full, Honest Look at the Marriage, the Scandal, and the Family Behind One of College Football’s Most Controversial Coaches
Introduction: Is Bobby Petrino Married?
Bobby Petrino is a name familiar to all college football fans, even those who don’t follow the game closely. He is one of the most talented playmakers in the history of football. He has turned around programs that were struggling to become contenders, coached heisman winners and developed offenses that no other coach can post. The attention he’s received has been as much to his personal life as it has been to his coaching record.The question everyone has at the heart of that personal life is: Is Bobby Petrino married? The answer is yes.
Bobby Petrino is married to his wife, Tracey. He has been married since July 20, 1985 to Becky Petrino. It’s over 40 years of marriage, moving across the country, changing careers, experiencing professional ups and downs, and even one scandal that was made all too public that had the potential to ruin it. In this article, you’ll find the complete story. You will discover who Becky Petrino is, how she and Bobby met, what their marriage has been like over 4 decades, what the 2012 scandal was and how their family is doing today. So, if you ever asked, “Is Bobby Petrino married?” this article has all the answers.
Bobby Petrino’s Brief Bio and Marriage History
| Detail | Information |
| Nickname / First Name | Pat |
| Date of Birth | March 10, 1961 |
| Birthplace | Lewistown, Montana, USA |
| Age (2025) | 64 years old |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | July 20, 1985 |
| Spouse | Rebecca “Becky” Schaff Petrino |
| Wife’s Date of Birth | December 3, 1967 |
| Wife’s Age (2025) | 57–58 years old |
| Years Married (2025) | 40 years |
| Where They Met | Carroll College, Helena, Montana |
| Children | Four: Nick and Kelsey, Bobby Jr., and Katie |
| Grandchildren | Eight grandchildren (as of 2025) |
| 2012 Scandal | Had an affair with Jessica Dorrell, resulting in his dismissal from Arkansas; the marriage survived the controversy. |
| Past Experience (2023) | Assistant Coach at Washington State University |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $18 million |
Who is Bobby Petrino? What is the background of the Marriage Question?
So before we dig into Bobby Petrino’s marriage, let’s get to know Bobby Petrino as a public personality. Bobby Petrino was born on March 10, 1961 in Lewistown, Mont. He was born and raised in Helena and attended Capital High School, graduating in 1979. A small Catholic liberal arts college in Helena, Carroll College, dominated by football, was his alma mater. Bob Petrino Sr. was head coach of Carroll from 1971-1999. Football was a family affair right from the start.
After graduating, Bobby started his coaching career as a graduate assistant. He played in the Weber State, Idaho, Arizona State, Nevada, Utah State, Louisville, and Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) programs. Established a knack for producing on the offensive side. In his systems, points were scored. His quarterbacks developed.
The teams he’s best known for coaching include Louisville (2003-2006), the Atlanta Falcons during the 2007 season, Arkansas (2008-2012), Western Kentucky (2013) and Louisville once again (2014-2018). Subsequently, He then took over at Missouri State in 2020, and was serving as the offensive coordinator for Texas A&M in 2023 when he came back to Arkansas as the coordinator in 2023 until 2025. Later, He took over as interim head coach at Arkansas when Sam Pittman was fired in September 2025. Most recently, He was hired as offensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina in January 2026, following Bill Belichick. In Bobby Petrino’s personal life, there’s been one constant and that is Becky through all of those moves, all of those programs and contracts. So the question of is Bobby Petrino married has not changed since 1985.
Who is Becky Petrino? The woman Bobby Petrino wed
Early life and background
Becky Petrino was born Rebecca Schaff on December 3, 1967 in Missoula, Montana. Growing up in Montana, she embraced the values that accompany that kind of life experience: loyalty, faith, hard work, and an appreciation for quiet power over the powers of public demonstration.
She graduated from Loyola Sacred Heart High School, a Catholic school dedicated to academics and service, in Missoula. She then attended Carroll College in Helena where Bobby Petrino was quarterback. It is from that connection that their story begins. But Becky has never sought attention. Additionally, She is not available for interviews. Likewise, She has no important public social media accounts. Over the years, She has lived in over 20 new cities whilst Bobby’s career has gone through each phase and has made a home in every one of those cities within days of her arrival. This uniformity is what has underpinned their family life for four decades.
How Bobby Petrino and Becky Met
Bobby and Becky first met in the early 80’s while attending Carroll College. He was a quarterbacks coach at the graduate level. She was a student of the same Montana Catholic community where he had grown up. Importantly, They had the same values and a vision of life. From the beginning, They were married from the beginning. Likewise, They both did not make their courtship a public display. Eventually, They dated, developed a genuine bond and got married in the summer of 1985. In interviews Bobby has talked about how Becky believed in his coaching and trusted him before anyone else. At the time, coaching was little paid. The working day was arduous. There was no job security. Becky was there through it all. She was there for him when it was uncertain whether there was a career and even whether there was a future.
Is Bobby Petrino Married? The Full Marriage Story
Wedding and Early Marriage Years
Bobby Petrino and Becky Schaff married on July 20, 1985. It was a private, simple ceremony, just how they both have lived their lives. No big announcements. No media. A marriage to two people who were already aware of their destination. Bobby’s marriage career trajectory lined up with his early career rise.Bobby’s marriage career trajectory coincided with his early rise in his career. He was a step up from school to school. Every time he moved, Becky moved. She moved from state to state and maintained the children and kept the family together in a schedule that most people would find impossible.
In more than one interview Bobby has stated that he is a blessed man that he had Becky next to him. It’s not talking about lip service. It’s an expression of 40 years of seeing someone take care of you while you were working.
Four Children and A Football Family
Bobby and Becky had 4 children. But the most challenging and productive years of Bobby’s career was when their family expanded, and Becky did most of the parenting as Bobby’s coaching load increased.
Nick Petrino
Nick is the eldest son. He took up coaching with his father. He was a quarterback at Louisville, and coached with his father at Arkansas and at Missouri State. Now he is the offensive coordinator at Charlotte. He has a family of two children and is the husband of.His wife and 2 children.
Kelsey Petrino Scott
Kelsey is the eldest daughter. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Administration at the University of Louisville. Now, she is working fulltime for the Petrino Family Foundation, serving as the foundation’s grantee for the youth sports programs. She is the wife of former Louisville linebacker Ladrien Scott and mother to four children.
Bobby Petrino Jr.
The younger son is Bobby Jr. He went to the University of Arkansas. It was in 2015, in a Louisville LGBT magazine, that he publicly identified as gay. At the time Bobby Sr. issued a statement stating there was full family support. Bobby Jr. has one daughter and is married.
Katie Petrino Beard
Katie is the baby. She was a Division I golf player at Louisville where she was an All-American Scholar in her junior year for WGA. Since then she has expanded her HOTWORX fitness locations to several in Kentucky.
The 2012 Scandal: The Biggest Test of Is Bobby Petrino Married?
What Happened in 2012
No honest article about is Bobby Petrino married skips 2012. This year has been the most publicized marriage disaster to date.
Bobby Petrino was in a motorcycle crash near Fayetteville, Arkansas in April 2012. The police called in and he was not alone. A 25-year-old former Arkansas volleyball player named Jessica Dorrell, whom he had hired as a student-athlete development coordinator, accompanied him.She was far from just a co-worker. Bobby and Dorrell were having an affair.
Bobby first reported to Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long that he was alone at the time of the accident. The cover up was as much as the affair itself when the truth came out. The University of Washington fired Long for allegedly “misleading” the institution and for maintaining a secret personal relationship with a staff member he hired in April 2012.
Coverage of this story appeared in all major sports media outlets across the country. Bobby Petrino has become one of the most coveted coaches in college football to one of the most closely watched in the nation in the span of a few days.
How Becky Responded
When it comes to who she is, you’ll know by how Becky Petrino responded to the 2012 scandal. Notably, She didn’t make any public remarks. Furthermore, She did not do any interviews. Likewise, She has not been present at press conferences. Throughout the ordeal, She dealt with the crisis the way she had dealt with all the difficult times in the marriage, privately, without trying to do things before an audience. Ultimately, She stayed.
The marriage survived. Bobby has commented on this with tears in his eyes. He told CBS Sports that he was a very blessed person to have his family with him and his wife with him as interim head coach in Arkansas in 2025. Those are the words of someone who knows the price his family paid for staying, and who chose to face it head on. They managed to deal with the crisis without making it a public one. No statement tours. No joint interviews. They went through and over it as a family and they got on with it.
Jessica Dorrell: Where Things Stand Now
Jessica Dorrell resigned from school after the scandal. She went on to marry Josh Morgan, and has not had much of a public career since that time. There’s no public indication that there’s any current relationship with Bobby Petrino. The incident has been more than 10 years in the past. They have both gone on with their life.
Bobby Petrino Married: Timeline Of His Relationships
| Year | Event |
| Early 1980s | Bobby Petrino and Becky Schaff meet at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. |
| July 20, 1985 | Bobby Petrino and Becky Schaff marry in a private ceremony. |
| 1985–2000s | As Bobby advances through the coaching ranks, Becky manages more than 20 household relocations for the family. |
| Approx. 1988 | Son Nick Petrino is born and later pursues a career as a football coach. |
| Approx. 1990 | Daughter Kelsey Petrino is born and later becomes CEO of the Petrino Family Foundation. |
| Approx. 1993 | Son Bobby Petrino Jr. is born and publicly identifies as gay in 2015. |
| Approx. 1997 | Daughter Katie Petrino is born and later competes as a Division I golfer at Louisville. |
| 2003–2006 | Bobby serves as head coach at Louisville, and the family relocates to Kentucky. |
| 2007 | Bobby becomes head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, prompting the family’s move to Georgia. |
| 2008 | Bobby is appointed head coach at Arkansas, and the family relocates to Fayetteville. |
| April 2012 | A motorcycle accident reveals Bobby’s affair with Jessica Dorrell, leading to his dismissal from Arkansas. |
| 2012–2013 | Becky remains out of the public spotlight while the marriage continues; Bobby coaches at Western Kentucky. |
| 2014–2018 | Bobby returns as Louisville’s head coach, and the family relocates once again while maintaining their marriage. |
| 2015 | Bobby Petrino Jr. publicly comes out as gay, and the family issues a statement expressing full support. |
| 2020–2022 | Bobby coaches at Missouri State University (MSU), requiring another family move and adaptation by Becky. |
| 2023–2025 | Bobby serves as offensive coordinator at Arkansas and is appointed interim head coach in September 2025. |
| 2025 | Bobby and Becky celebrate 40 years of marriage. |
| January 2026 | Bobby becomes offensive coordinator at North Carolina under Bill Belichick. |
Is Bobby Petrino Married Today? His Current status 2025 and 2026
Yes, Bobby Petrino is married today. Bobby Petrino is still wed to Bobby’s wife, Becky Petrino. They have been married for 40 years. They now have four children and eight grandchildren. The marriage endured the 2012 scandal and over 20 moves. It is still standing.
Bobby was interim head coach at Arkansas, after Sam Pittman was fired on September 28, 2025, until the end of 2025. He coached the Razorbacks for the rest of the year. At that time he shared how he felt blessed to have his family and his wife with him through it. Bobby signed with UNC in January 2026 as the offense coordinator for Bill Belichick. This is yet another move for the Petrino family and yet another city for Becky to set up a home in.
Today, No reliable evidence of a romantic relationship outside of marriage. Likewise, No confirmed girlfriend. Furthermore, No pending divorce. Additionally, No rumours with substantiating sources. Bobby Petrino is still married, he is married and there’s evidence to prove it.
Bobby Petrino is known for his tight lippedness when it comes to his personal life. He speaks about football. He discusses the plans, schemes, and quarterbacks. However, when asked about his personal life, he happily talks about Becky.
Beyond Being Bobby Petrino’s Wife: Becky Petrino’s Life Today
Family Foundation Work
A positive aspect of Becky’s current career is the Petrino Family Foundation. Kelsey, their daughter, maintains it full-time, distributing grants to youth sports programs and community programs. Becky is the foundation’s backbone in the values and direction of the foundation, but she doesn’t assume a public profile.
Grandchildren and Family Life
As of 2025, Becky has 8 grand-children. Kelsey has 4 daughters, Nick has 2 daughters, and Bobby Jr. has one daughter. Family members say Becky is all in when it comes to the grandchildren. She attends events. She stays involved. She’s not a faraway person in their lives.
Kelsey said the Petrino family was very close, shortly after her first child’s birth. She says that is due entirely to the amount of family mobility during childhood. A family that moves over and over comes together or breaks apart. The Petrino kids rallied round together. It is because of Becky that this is the case.
Private Social Media and Public Presence
Becky has her own Instagram account.Maintaining her privacy, she shares content with close family and friends. This is her style of marriage. She lives her life, not his husband’s life, which lives in the sports media cycle.
Bobby Petrino’s Marriage Gives You Lessons in Loyalty and Recovery
Much of Bobby Petrino’s tale as a husband is really a tale of what a loyal marriage should look like when it goes wrong. Bobby Petrino made some big blunders. Unfortunately, He had an affair with a woman other than his wife. Additionally, He made up the information to his employer. As a result, He shamed his wife, who is someone very few have been through. Those are facts.
They’re not the little footnotes in the marriage narrative. Meanwhile, the marriage continued. Becky decided to remain. When she made that decision, it was her own and not forced upon her by anyone. There was no need for her to explain herself to anyone. She decided and believed. In 2025, the marriage is still intact, 13 years after the scandal.
Recovery takes accountability. In 2012, Bobby hasn’t been able to give any excuses. Whenever it is mentioned, he admits that he is at fault. He says his family and in particular his wife, Becky, made it possible for him to get better. The action of Becky was practical and human. She thought about her marriage, her family and her future, and she decided to persevere. It doesn’t matter if people would have done the same because it was their choice.
She did so fully aware of the events of what had taken place and the demands of a stay.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Q1: Is Bobby Petrino married right now in 2025?
Yes. Bobby Petrino is married to Becky Petrino, born Rebecca Schaff. They have been married since July 20, 1985. As of 2025, that is 40 years of marriage. No credible information points to a divorce or separation.
Q2: Who did Bobby Petrino marry?
Bobby Petrino married Rebecca Schaff, known as Becky. They met at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, in the early 1980s and married in 1985. Becky was born on December 3, 1967, in Missoula, Montana.
Q3: How long has Bobby Petrino been married?
Bobby Petrino has been married to Becky since July 20, 1985. As of 2025, the marriage is 40 years old. Few coaches in high-profile college football have marriages of that length.
Q4: Did the 2012 scandal end Bobby Petrino’s marriage?
No. The 2012 affair with Jessica Dorrell ended Bobby Petrino’s job at Arkansas. It did not end his marriage. Becky chose to stay. The couple worked through the crisis privately. Bobby has acknowledged publicly how grateful he is that his wife and family stayed with him through that period.
Q5: Does Bobby Petrino have a girlfriend?
No. No credible information points to Bobby Petrino having a girlfriend or any romantic involvement outside his marriage. The curiosity about a girlfriend traces back to the 2012 scandal, but that ended more than a decade ago. His relationship with Jessica Dorrell is over. He is married to Becky.
Q6: How many children does Bobby Petrino have?
Bobby Petrino and Becky have four children. Meanwhile, Their older son Nick is a football coach. Likewise, Their older daughter Kelsey runs the Petrino Family Foundation. Additionally, Their younger son Bobby Jr. came out as gay in 2015 and works in the family business. Today, Their younger daughter Katie played Division I golf and now runs fitness studios in Kentucky.
Q7: How many grandchildren does Bobby Petrino have?
Bobby and Becky Petrino have eight grandchildren as of 2025. Kelsey has four children, Nick has two, and Bobby Jr. has one daughter. The family is large and close.
Q8: What is Bobby Petrino’s wife doing today?
Becky Petrino lives a private life. Additionally, She is involved with the Petrino Family Foundation, which Kelsey runs. Likewise, She is present in her grandchildren’s lives and shows up at family events consistently. Occasionally, She occasionally attends Bobby’s games. Furthermore, She does not seek media attention and keeps her personal life away from public scrutiny.
Q9: What is Bobby Petrino’s current coaching role?
As of January 2026, Bobby Petrino is offensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina under head coach Bill Belichick. Before that, he served as interim head coach at Arkansas in fall 2025 after Sam Pittman’s firing. His offensive coordinator salary at Arkansas was $1.5 million for 2024 and $1.6 million for 2025.
Q10: What is Bobby Petrino’s net worth?
Bobby Petrino’s net worth is estimated at approximately $18 million as of 2025. This reflects more than 40 years of coaching at major programs. His Atlanta Falcons contract in 2007 was a five-year, $24 million deal. Subsequent college coaching contracts have added to that total through base salaries, incentives, and benefits.
The Final Answer to Is Bobby Petrino Married
Here is the full answer to is Bobby Petrino married. Yes, he is. He has been married to Becky Petrino since July 20, 1985. Initially, They met at Carroll College in Montana. Over the years, They built a family through 40 years and more than 20 moves. Remarkably, They survived one of the most public scandals in college football history. Today, They are still married today.
Becky Petrino is the constant in a career built on change. Bobby has coached at more than a dozen programs across college football and the NFL. He has been hired, fired, rebuilt, and hired again. Through all of it, the answer to is Bobby Petrino married has not changed.
Here is what their family looks like as of 2025:
- Four children: Nick, Kelsey, Bobby Jr., and Katie, all college graduates with careers and families of their own.
- Eight grandchildren who call Becky their grandmother.
- A family foundation that distributes grants to youth sports programs.
- A marriage that faced a public crisis in 2012 and did not end.
- Bobby now coaching at North Carolina under Bill Belichick as of January 2026.
That is the story behind the search. Is Bobby Petrino married? Yes. And the marriage tells you more about both of them than any win-loss record ever will.