SPRINGFIELD — In 21 seasons at Wittenberg, coach Joe Fincham said, he has never coached a player with more leadership qualities than Taver Johnson. The two-time All-American linebacker stood out even as a freshman with the Tigers in 1991, which happened to be Fincham’s first season as an assistant coach at Wittenberg.

In the coming weeks, Johnson will need every ounce of those leadership abilities he displayed long ago in Springfield. He was named the interim head football coach at the University of Arkansas on Friday after head coach Bobby Petrino, 51, was suspended after admitting “a previous inappropriate relationship.”

“I don’t know how the situation will play out,” Fincham said, “but I’m sure he’ll do a very fine job. Taver’s bright. He’s very honest. He’s fiery and as intense as anybody I’ve been around.”

Johnson was hired at Arkansas in January. It was the most recent stop in a coaching career that began after his playing career ended.

In 1994 and 1995, Johnson was the defensive line coach at Wittenberg. He went to Millikin College in 1996 when Doug Neibuhr left Wittenberg to coach there. Johnson later coached at Miami and Notre Dame and with the Cleveland Browns for one season. For the last five seasons, he coached cornerbacks at Ohio State.

“I think Taver’s aspired to be a head coach, that’s for sure,” Fincham said. “He didn’t aspire to be a head coach under these circumstances. Unfortunately, that’s the way it goes sometimes. He’s had a busy couple of years with what happened at Ohio State and now what’s going on at Arkansas.”

Petrino was involved in a motorcycle accident Sunday in Fayetteville, Ark. He didn’t disclose to Arkansas that Jessica Dorrell, a 25-year-old former Arkansas volleyball player who had just been hired by the athletic department, was with him during the crash.

Petrino has been suspended with pay as the university considers his future. Johnson coached the team at spring practice Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.