Duane Akina is back with the Texas Longhorns again.
The Arizona defensive backs assistant and Dick Tomey's former right-hand man reportedly accepted a senior analyst position on Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian's staff, according to FootballScoop.com on Sunday.
The 67-year-old Akina will join former Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, who was named Texas' co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach earlier this month, as UA assistants to leave for UT.
Duane Akina, senior defensive assistant, speaks to members of the media during the Arizona Wildcats’ football preseason media day at the Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center on Aug. 1, 2023.
Akina assisted Nansen in elevating an Arizona defense that rose from 125th nationally in total defense to No. 50 in the last two seasons. Akina was initially hired as a senior analyst, but was elevated to an on-field coaching role while defensive line coach Ricky Hunley recovered from leg surgery.
Akina also held roles as a defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the UA during the celebrated "Desert Swarm" era under Tomey from 1987-2000; Akina briefly coached Arizona's defensive backs in 2011 under Mike Stoops, but returned to Texas to coach defensive backs after Jerry Gray became the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator.
Akina mentored three Jim Thorpe Award winners between his time at Arizona and Texas: Darryll Lewis (Arizona), Michael Huff (Texas) and Aaron Ross (Texas).
After leaving Arizona, assistant coach Duane Akina spent over a decade at Texas. He then spent nine seasons with Stanford before returning to Tucson in 2023.
At Texas, Akina coached the Longhorns from 2001-13 and helped UT win a national championship at the Rose Bowl against USC in 2006. Prior to his second stint at Arizona, Akina coached defensive backs at Stanford under David Shaw from 2014-22.
Akina and Nansen's departures now leaves two positions open on Arizona's defensive staff, while Washington continues to target head coach Jedd Fisch for its head coaching vacancy following Kalen DeBoer becoming Nick Saban's successor at Alabama after two seasons at UW.
Arizona football assistant coach Duane Akina shares at the team's media day Aug. 1, 2023 how the current UA football era under Jedd Fisch mirrors the Dick Tomey era. Video by Brett Fera/Arizona Daily Star
