BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) -- Arkansas assistant head coach and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge was hired Monday as head coach at Florida Atlantic.
A native of nearby Plantation, Fla., Partridge has worked under head coach Bret Bielema the past six years, including five seasons at Wisconsin and the past season at Arkansas. He helped the Badgers reach the Rose Bowl three times.
Partridge also coached at Pittsburgh, Eastern Illinois, Iowa State and Drake, where he played and graduated in 1995. He was regarded as a top recruiter of South Florida players while at Arkansas and Wisconsin.
Carl Pelini resigned as coach Oct. 30 after FAU said he and defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis acknowledged using illegal drugs. Rekstis also resigned.
Pelini later denied using illegal drugs, but the school withdrew his resignation and fired him. He went 5-15 as coach.
Offensive coordinator Brian Wright succeeded him as interim coach and went 4-0 with the Owls, who finished this season 6-6 overall and 4-4 in Conference USA. They were bowl eligible for the first time since 2008 but didn't receive an invitation.
An introductory news conference for Partridge is scheduled for Tuesday. Arkansas went 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the Southeastern Conference in his only season there.
