Petrino named Missouri Valley Conference's top coach

Updated Apr. 22, 2021 5:34 p.m. ET

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — 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.

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.

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.

The university

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

He coached Western Kentucky in 2013 before being rehired at Louisville for the 2014 season. He was