FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino was fired on April 10 after misleading university officials and the public in an effort to prevent disclosure of an extramarital affair with employee Jessica Dorrell.
Dorrell’s tenure with the program ended a week later.
Arkansas announced Tuesday night that Dorrell, 25, had resigned from her position as student-athlete development coordinator with the football program. Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said in the press release that the decision was in the best interest for both parties.
“While Ms. Dorrell had a legitimate right to apply for and accept a position within the football program, the circumstances surrounding the former coach’s decision to hire her compromised her ability to be effective in such a position,” Long said in the press release. “She and I believe she should have the opportunity to move on.”
Arkansas said Dorrell’s resignation came with the understanding she “would not attempt to sell or profit from her affiliation with Razorback Athletics.”
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The university also is paying Dorrell “approximately $14,000” as part of what it has called a “settlement and resolution of all matters between the parties.”
Dorrell had been on administrative leave. The program has no immediate plans to reopen or advertise the position. The duties will be assigned to other staff members.
Dorrell’s resignation ends a tenure that lasted roughly three weeks. The former Arkansas volleyball player was hired by Petrino in March after previously holding a position in the Razorback Foundation.
She was one of three finalists for the student-athlete development coordinator position, which drew 159 total applicants. Petrino did not disclose his relationship with Dorrell — or the fact he gave her a $20,000 cash gift to purchase an Acura her first week on the job — until after the two were involved in a motorcycle accident on April 1.
The exact terms of Dorrell’s resignation were laid out in a 14-page agreement, which was signed by both parties.
It stated Dorrell will receive an exact payment of $13,933.75 within two weeks as part of her resignation.
The 14-page document also says Dorrell does not “wish to apply for employment with the Board in the future, and the Board may disregard any applications for employment submitted by Ms. Dorrell in the future.” It also denotes the “irrevocable release and convenant not to sue” and Arkansas is not responsible for paying her legal fees.
“In the event Ms. Dorrell is asked about her employment and resignation at the University, Ms. Dorrell covenants and agrees to state that any and all disputes were resolved amicably or words of a similar effect,” the agreement reads.
“Ms. Dorrell covenants and agrees not to undertake any activity to profit off the events relating to or leading to her employment and resignation from the University of Arkansas or the events giving rise to this Agreement.”