Head coach Brent Brennan is officially back for a second season at the helm of the Arizona, but the Wildcats will have new folks leading the offense, defense, and special teams. On Thursday, Brent Brennan announced that Arizona is set to hire three new coordinators ahead of the 2025 season. Offensive coordinator Dino Babers will not return, while defensive coordinator Duane Akina will return to coaching the secondary, and special teams coordinator Danny Gonzales will move into an undetermined role.
“This season did not come close to meeting the standards that we have as a program and no one is more disappointed than me,” said Brennan in a statement released on Thursday. “As the head coach, it is my responsibility to evaluate all areas of the program and I felt these changes will positively impact the long-term success of the program.”
Offense
Regarding Dino Babers, the lone Arizona assistant on a one-year contract, Brennan told the media on Thursday, “it was always a one year deal with him.” Prior to returning to Arizona, where he was an offensive assistant under Dick Tomey from 1995-2000, Babers served stints as the head coach of Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, and most recently Syracuse.
“That part of it is exciting. It’s always my job to exhaust all options and all possibilities and do whatever we have to do to give us a chance to play the best football we can here at Arizona,” Brennan said. “This is a result-oriented business, and there’s a fine line there between seeing the value in what they bring, because they’re outstanding coaches, and I think we all know that. But what we were doing was obviously not working.”
Brennan says he will look to make an external hire, and that he’s looking for candidates with play-calling experience, who can coordinate both the run and pass game. Brennan added that a “big part” of the next offensive coordinator at Arizona will be to help the “continued development of Noah Fifita.”
“Every conversation I have with Noah has been really positive about him coming back. He still has not made that announcement public. He’s taking some time to step away. Obviously, the season was challenging on every level, and no one wears that burden heavier than Noah Fifita does. So, he’s just taking a break,” said Brennan. “I met with him on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I met with the leaders on the team on Sunday and Tuesday, and he was part of that group. He has every intention of returning, but I think who we hire here is going to have an impact on that. He has to be excited about that person we bring in to be the play-caller.”
Defense
On the other side of the ball, the decision to bring in a new defensive coordinator is one that both Brent Brennan and Duane Akina think will maximizing Akina’s value within the program.
“He’s going to go back to producing NFL defensive backs and where we get the value of his experience. No one’s better at teaching and coaching the secondary than he is, and so I think that’s going to be incredibly valuable for us.”
During his 45-year career as a coach, Akina has produced three Jim Thorpe Award winners (presented to the best defensive back in college football), six finalists, and 41 defensive backs who have gone on to play in the NFL.
With Danny Gonzales returning, one option is elevating him to defensive coordinator. Prior to serving as the head coach at New Mexico, Gonzales served as the safeties coach at San Diego State from 2011-2016, defensive coordinator at San Diego State in 2017, and defensive coordinator at Arizona State from 2018-2019. Brent Brennan plans to explore the options that are out there, but says that is definitely a possibility.
“As we look at the possibilities that are out there, it doesn’t mean that we won’t end up taking into consideration Danny’s track-record as a defensive play-caller also.”
Special Teams
Given the special teams woes this year, including a punt-return for a touchdown against Kansas State and a touchdown on fake field goal attempt by West Virginia, Brent Brennan wants someone who won’t split time with another phase of the game.
“I think it gets complicated when people are either an offensive coach or a defensive coach, and trying to also coach the kicking game. And so, I’m looking for someone that is just narrowly focused on that.”
What’s Next?
As Brent Brennan explores bringing in external candidates for all three coordinator positions, he says additional staff changes are not off the table.
“I’m optimistic that whoever we bring in for that job will want to talk about the guys that are here, possibly interview them. And then sure, he might have a guy or two that he wants to be a part of this and thinks will help us be successful, and that’s something I have to listen to.”
In terms of the timing to get everything done, Brennan understands the urgency to move quickly, but says getting the best candidate trumps making hasting decisions.
“I think the most important thing is that we hire the best person we can for the job. I don’t want to accelerate that, like, some of the people that we’re talking to are playing games this weekend. The most important thing is that I am diligent about this process, and I find the best person to bring in here for Arizona Football. And I’m trying to do it on an accelerated timeline, but I also understand that the portal is going to be open for a good stretch there, and we can get done whatever we need to get done.”
Brent Brennan closed his remarks by confirming Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois has been a firm supporter of the decision to hire three new coordinators to Arizona Football.
“I talk with Desireé three times a day about this, she’s been great. I think that part of it is, you want to work in alignment with your athletic director,” said Brennan. “It’s an ongoing discussion. We’re going through candidates, talking about who the possibilities might be, and she’s bouncing stuff back and forth off of me, and vice versa. It’s been really positive.”