Our sources tell WildcatAuthority.com that Arizona’s new defensive coordinator will be Duane Akina. Currently in
Tucson, Akina has been assisting Arizona head coach Brent Brennan with staff hiring and transition.
Before Jedd Fisch was hired at Washington, he accepted a job as a defensive consultant with Texas, but he returned
mostly because of his connection to Brennan through Dick Tomey.
Akina was evident on the basketball floor at McKale Centre on Saturday when the Wildcats made their
announcement about their comeback, and he has been vocal on social media about the return of Arizona players as well.
Brennan did not reveal much about his coaching staff during his press conference on Wednesday, but he did express
his belief that Akina will be making a return to Tucson.
“I continue to work on that,” Brennan stated. “The thing that excites me the most is that I believe Duane Akina has
given me a respectable commitment to stay involved in this, which is thrilling. Simply put, he is a leader, a person,
and a teacher. I’m happy about that.
Brennan did not reveal much about his coaching staff during his press conference on Wednesday, but he did express
his belief that Akina will be making a return to Tucson.
“I continue to work on that,” Brennan stated. “The thing that excites me the most is that I believe Duane Akina has
given me a respectable commitment to stay involved in this, which is thrilling. Simply put, he is a leader, a person,
and a teacher. I’m happy about that.
Akina led the Wildcats’ “Desert Swarm” defensive attack, one of the most aggressive and effective units in the
country, while serving as Arizona’s secondary coach. Darryll Lewis, the 1990 Jim Thorpe Award winner, and Chris
McAlister, the 1998 Mosi Tatupu National Special Teams Player of the Year and a finalist for the Thorpe Award, were
two of his prize pupils.
Akina worked under Dick Tomey as a defensive assistant at Hawaii for five seasons prior to his 14-year tenure at
Arizona. He then spent one season with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.
Thirty-one defensive backs who have played in the NFL, including seven Pro Bowlers, nine Super Bowl participants,
and twelve All-Americans, have been taught by Akina. He has also coached six Thorpe Award finalists and three
Thorpe Award winners. Akina has 26 bowl game coaching experience.
Akina served in a variety of capacities during his initial tenure at Arizona, including associate head coach, coordinator
of defence, coordinator of offence, and coach of defensive backs. Akina played a similar job under Mack Brown at
Texas after the 2000 season. Akina most recently served as the defensive backs coach at Stanford for David Shaw
from 2014 to the current campaign.
Akina was a mentor for several All-Pac-12 honorees at Stanford from 2014 to 22. Among them was Kyu Blue Kelly,
who made the second team after racking up 13 pass defences, including two interceptions in 2021. In 2020, Malik
Antoine and Kelly, a sophomore cornerback, were named honourable mention All-Pac-12 defensive backs for the
Cardinals. Paulson Adebo, a Stanford cornerback who was drafted in the third round by the New Orleans Saints in
2021, is the latest in a long line of defensive backs who were coached by Akina to be chosen in the NFL Draft.
Safety for all Americans The Houston Texans selected Justin Reid in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In 2017,
Reid played a key role in the Cardinal defence, which finished ninth in turnovers (28), and 12th in interceptions (18
passes intercepted) nationally. Reid joined Quenton Meeks and Brandon Simmons as the only three defensive backs
to be named All-Pac-12.
Every American’s right to safety In the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Justin Reid was chosen by the Houston
Texans. Reid was a major contributor to the Cardinal defence in 2017, which ranked 12th in the country for
interceptions (18 passes intercepted) and ninth in turnovers (28). Reid became just one of only three defensive backs
to be chosen All-Pac-12, along with Quenton Meeks and Brandon Simmons.
From 2001 to2013, Akina was a coach at the University of Texas. The Longhorns finished third in the nation in terms
of completion % allowed (47.2) and tenth in pass defence (177.3 yards per game) in 2003. Akina, who was designated
co-defensive coordinator in 2004, assisted in leading a defence that ranked 18th in the nation in terms of scoring
defence (17.9), 16th in terms of rushing defence (107.4), 32nd in terms of turnover margin (+5), and 23rd in terms of
total defence (320.1).
Akina oversaw a defence and secondary in 2005 that finished fourth in the country in terms of pass efficiency defence
(96.7), eighth in terms of pass defence (172.0 ypg), ninth in terms of scoring defence (16.4 ppg), and tenth in terms of
total defence (302.9 ypg). Akina also developed three All-Big 12 players out of the secondary and coached Huff, the
first-ever Jim Thorpe Award winner from Texas.
Akina continued to demonstrate his capacity to produce exceptional talent in 2006, even though he lost two players—
Huff (Raiders) and Cedric Gryphon (Vikings)—who went on to start for their NFL teams. In addition to winning the
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award from multiple publications, he assisted Aaron Ross in winning Texas’
second straight Thorpe Award.
2009 saw Akina head a secondary that enabled the defence rank 10th in pass efficiency defence, 19th in passing yards
allowed, and first in the country in interceptions (25). Additionally, unanimous All-America selection S. Earl Thomas,
who led the country in passes defended and tied for second in interceptions with a UT record eight, was featured.
Thomas was the Longhorns’ third Thorpe Award finalist in five years. Thomas’ two interceptions returned for
touchdowns also tied the single-season record for UT.
In 2011, Akina’s team helped Texas top the Big 12 in pass efficiency defence and lead the conference overall. They also
held opponents to 209.9 yards per game, which helped Texas rank 10th in the US.
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