After a number of changes on the defensive coaching staff this week, it’s the offense’s turn to shake things up. Arizona tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Matt Adkins is no longer with the program. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the news.
Adkins is out after just one season in Tucson. With another year remaining on his two-year contract, the UA will owe him $375,000 unless he lands a new job for the 2025 season.
Under Adkins, tight ends figured to be a larger part of the Wildcats’ offense in 2024. After heavy tight end usage throughout spring ball and fall camp, that didn’t pan out. Last season, tight ends accounted for just 453 yards and three touchdowns of Arizona’s 2,975 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.
Adkins, who was also Arizona’s passing game coordinator, took over play-calling duties from then-offensive coordinator Dino Babers after the Wildcats’ 31-7 loss against Kansas State in Manhattan, KS. Under Babers and Adkins, Arizona’s offense took a major step backwards from a year ago. After finishing with the No. 20 offense, averaging 448.0 yards per game, in 2023, the Wildcats finished 96th in total offense last season, averaging 354.5 yards per game.
Scoring was even poorer, as the Wildcats finished 114th in scoring offense, averaging 21.8 points per game, a year after boasting the No. 18 scoring offense in the country, averaging 34.6 points per game.
With Matt Adkins no longer with Arizona, the Wildcats’ next tight ends coach will be the first hire made by new offensive coordinator Seth Doege, who coached tight ends at USC in 2021, and at Purdue in 2023.