Arkansas has fired football coach Bobby Petrino.

Razorbacks athletic director Jeff Long announced the news at a press conference Tuesday night. Long said Petrino was terminated with cause, meaning Petrino would forfeit his salary that averages around $3.5 million per year.

"There was no negotiation about how he could remain as our coach," Long said.

Long said he thoroughly reviewed the details involving a motorcycle accident that sent Petrino to the hospital with broken ribs and a cracked vertebrae.

The 51-year-old Petrino failed to disclose he had been riding with a female employee half his age.

Petrino also admitted to an inappropriate relationship with the woman, Jessica Dorrell. Dorrell was hired by Petrino as the student-athlete development coordinator weeks ago.

Long said Petrino "knowingly misled" him and the athletics department, and that Petrino had multiple opportunities to be forthcoming about the details of the accident. He wasn't.

Long said he learned during his review that Dorrell received $20,000 from Petrino and was also hired from a pool of 159 applicants for the job with the athletic department. Dorrell was one of three applicants interviewed for the position, according to Long. Long said the Petrino-Dorrell relationship had been going on for "a significant period of time."

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"In this case, coach Petrino abused his authority when he made a staff hire that benefited himself and jeopardized integrity of football program," Long said.

Long became emotional during the press conference when discussing how he and players had been deceived by Petrino.

At one point, Long was asked if he thought Petrino was bigger than the program.

"Yes," Long said.