Updated: A coach-by-coach look at Kevin Sumlin's first Arizona Wildcats staff
Crew includes former colleagues from Texas A&M, assistants with NFL and junior college experience.
Kevin Sumlin's first staff includes old friends, new faces
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New football coach Kevin Sumlin talked with school President Robert Robbins at their courtside seats during Thursday’s basketball game between Arizona and Colorado. Sumlin is busy building a staff and establishing a rapport with recruits who have already signed with the UA.
New Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin has filled out his coaching staff with 10 full-time assistants, a group that includes numerous former Texas A&M colleagues, a few RichRod holdovers, two NFL coaching veterans and one junior-college coordinator. His supports staff includes Chuck Cecil, who will return as a staff analyst for the second consecutive season.
Here's a coach-by-coach look at Sumlin's 10-man staff.
Here's a coach-by-coach look at Arizona's 2018 coaching staff:
Noel Mazzone
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Texas A&M offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone watches warmups before the start of a NCAA college game against Mississippi State on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Noel Mazzone
Job title: Offensive coordinator/QBs coach
2017 role: Offensive coordinator, Texas A&M
Before that? Mazzone spent two seasons (2016-17) at Texas A&M after being hired away from UCLA, where he spent four seasons running the Bruins’ offense. He spent two seasons as Arizona State’s offensive coordinator under head coach Dennis Erickson. Mazzone has also worked with the NFL’s New York Jets (2006-08), Ole Miss (1995-98, 2005), NC State (2003-04), Oregon State (2002), Auburn (1999-2001), Minnesota (1992-94), TCU (1987-91), Colorado State (1982-86) and New Mexico (1981).
Marcel Yates
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Marcel Yates
Job title: Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach
2017 role: Defensive coordinator, Arizona
Before that? Yates coached Arizona’s linebackers and served as defensive coordinator in 2016. He was Boise State’s defensive coordinator from 2014-15 after serving as Texas A&M’s co-defensive coordinator from 2012-13. He spent between 2003-11 in various defensive capacities at Boise State.
Jeremy Springer
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Jeremy Springer
Jeremy Springer
Job title: Special teams coach
2017 role: Assistant special teams coach, Texas A&M
Before that? Springer spent three seasons (2015-17) at Texas A&M after serving as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, UTEP.
Theron Aych
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Theron Aych, who came to Arizona last year, landed a job as inside receivers coach under Kevin Sumlin.
Theron Aych
Job title: Outside receivers coach
2017 role: Wide receivers coach, Arizona
Before that? Aych was UTEP’s receivers coach in 2016. Aych spent five seasons at Angelo State, where he was a 2015 finalist for the AFCA’s Division II Assistant Coach of the Year Award. He was a graduate assistant at Washington and an assistant at Central Missouri for four seasons.
Joe Gilbert
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Joe Gilbert
Joe Gilbert
Job title: Offensive line coach
2017 role: Assistant offensive line coach, Indianapolis Colts
Before that? Gilbert spent six seasons (2012-17) in various capacities with the Colts. His time in the pros came following stints at Illinois (2009-11), Houston (2008), Toledo (2001-03, 2007), Central Florida (2004-08), Maine (1994-99) Northeastern (1991-93), Penn (1989-90) and Albany (1987-88).
Taylor Mazzone
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Taylor Mazzone
Job title: Inside receivers coach
2017 role: Quality control coach, Texas A&M
Before that? The son of offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone spent the previous two years at Texas A&M; before that, he spent three seasons (2013-15) as UCLA's quarterbacks coach from 2013-15 and two (2010-11) as a graduate assistant and quality control assistant at Arizona State.
Clarence McKinney
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Clarence McKinney
Clarence McKinney
Job title: Running backs coach
2017 role: Running backs coach, Texas A&M
Before that? McKinney spent six seasons (2012-17) at Texas A&M after following head coach Kevin Sumlin from Houston, where he spent the 2008-11 seasons serving as the Cougars’ running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. McKinney was a high school coach from 1997-2007.
John Rushing
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John Rushing
John Rushing
Job title: Safeties coach
2017 role: Safeties coach, Oregon State
Before that? Rushing spent eight seasons coaching in the NFL, serving as the Rams’ special teams/defensive consultant in 2016 after spending seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers’ staff. Before that, he spent seven seasons (2003-09) coaching the secondary at Utah State and four seasons (2000-03) in a similar capacity at Montana State. He was a graduate assistant at Boise State from 1998-2000 after spending the 1996-98 seasons coaching Willamette University’s cornerbacks.
Iona Uigalelei
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Iona Uigalelei
Iona Uigalelei
Job title: Defensive line coach
2017 role: Defensive coordinator, Mt. San Antonio College
Before that? Uigalelei spent 17 seasons at Mt. SAC, the last 11 as defensive coordinator. He joined the junior college ranks from Southern Utah, where he served as a graduate assistant.
Demetrice Martin
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September 3, 2016 College Station, TX..UCLA Defensive back coach Demetrice Martin pregame at UCLA Bruins vs Texas A&M Aggies Opening game at Kyle Field in College Station, TX on September 3, 2016. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
Demetrice Martin
Job title: Cornerbacks coach
2017 role: Secondary coach, UCLA
Before that? Martin spent seven seasons at UCLA under coach Jim Mora following four years (2008-11) as Washington's cornerbacks coach. He spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at UCLA following a decade in the junior college ranks. He worked alongside new defensive line coach Iona Uigalelei at Mount San Antonio College from 2003-05.
