UCO Head Coach Adam Dorrel opens up about DUI arrest, recovery

From being at the top of his game to sitting in the back of a police car, University of Central Oklahoma head football coach Adam Dorrel is recounting what he calls one of the worst days of his life.

Dorrel’s record speaks for itself: four national championships and leading the Bronchos to one of the best seasons in school history last year. But on April 3, 2025, he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor DUI. After a suspension, UCO reinstated him as head coach.

Now, Dorrel is speaking publicly about what happened.

“It had been a long few years leading up to that day,” Dorrel said. “At that point in time, I had got to a situation in my life where I’d had a substance abuse issue, and to go back to sleep, I would try to drink a little bit to go back to sleep.”

Dorrel said he had been struggling with recurring nightmares tied to trauma he had never processed, including witnessing a close friend’s suicide while in high school.

“There were very few days that I wouldn’t think about it,” he said. “Whether it was seeing a car that looked like his or hearing a song, something would bring that event back.”

On the day of his arrest, Dorrel said he had taken both alcohol and sleeping pills.

“I went to work that day, was having a lot of issues, and then went home. It was our off day, and unfortunately I took some sleeping pills to try to go to sleep as well. After that, the rest is history.”

Dorrel said the April incident pushed him to get professional help.

“I just went and got some professional help from people who have dealt with PTSD before and substance abuse issues,” he said. “I literally thank God every day that I didn’t hurt somebody. I was away from my family for over a month, and I’m still getting help.”

Dorrel said he is grateful to UCO for standing behind him and hopes to use his experience to support others, especially his players, who may face their own battles with mental health or substance abuse.