Kevin Sumlin clearly had several objectives in mind when he pieced together his first Arizona Wildcats coaching staff, which became official Tuesday.
Sumlin sought continuity, and he achieved that by retaining two members of last year’s staff: Marcel Yates and Theron Aych. Yates will have a slightly different role, remaining the defensive coordinator but switching from coaching defensive backs to linebackers (a group he tutored in his first year at the UA). Aych, who had been in charge of all wide receivers in his first season at Arizona, now will coach inside receivers.
Sumlin has stressed having a strong connection to Arizona’s past, and he checked that box by keeping Chuck Cecil as senior defensive analyst. The former UA All-American joined the staff last year in the same capacity. He will aid in personnel and film evaluation, but his duties do not include recruiting.
Knowing how hard change can be for players, Sumlin wants the transition to be as smooth as possible. To that end, he has hired five coaches who have worked for him before: Noel Mazzone (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Clarence McKinney (running backs), Joe Gilbert (offensive line), Taylor Mazzone (outside receivers) and Jeremy Springer (special teams). Yates also coached under Sumlin for two seasons.
Finally, Sumlin understands the proud tradition of Polynesian players at Arizona dating to the Dick Tomey era. The pipeline to the islands did not flow as freely under previous UA coach Rich Rodriguez. New defensive line coach Iona Uiagalelei should help in that regard.
“This is an outstanding staff that I am excited to introduce to our players, their families and our fans,” Sumlin said in a news release. “It’s important to me that each of our coaches be strong recruiters, while being the best at developing players on and off the field. Each of these assistant coaches are accomplished in those areas, and I am looking forward to our first season together.”
It’s a mild surprise that Yates is headed back to the linebacker room. He played defensive back at Boise State and had coached DBs up until the 2016 season. Cornerbacks Jace Whittaker and Lorenzo Burns and “Spur” safety Dane Cruikshank made significant strides under Yates last season.
Yates has a trusted ally in the secondary in John Rushing, who’s joining the staff to coach safeties. Rushing coached Yates at Boise State, and they were on the same staff at Montana State. Rushing will share secondary duties with Demetrice Martin, who will coach cornerbacks.
Arizona did not announce any support-staff hires besides Cecil. The school also did not clarify which assistant will coach tight ends.
Here’s a quick look at each of Sumlin’s assistant coaches (listed in alphabetical order):
THERON AYCH
Position: Inside receivers
Age: 46
Bio bits: Aych came to Arizona last February from UTEP, where he coached receivers in 2016. Before that, Aych served as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas. The 2015 Rams led Division II in total offense.
JOE GILBERT
Position: Offensive line
Age: 53
Bio bits: Gilbert spent the past six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, serving as offensive line coach and assistant O-line coach. He has 25 years of college coaching experience, including in 2008 under Sumlin at Houston. Gilbert spent three years at Illinois before joining the Colts.
DEMETRICE MARTIN
Position: Cornerbacks
Age: 44
Bio bits: Martin has extensive Pac-12 experience. He spent the past six seasons coaching defensive backs at UCLA under Jim Mora. Before that, Martin worked for three years at Washington. His first FBS job came at USC, where he was a defensive graduate assistant.
NOEL MAZZONE
Position: Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Age: 60
Bio bits: Mazzone has been directing offenses for more than two decades. He worked for Sumlin at Texas A&M the past two seasons. He spent the previous six years in the Pac-12 at Arizona State (2010-11) and UCLA (2012-15). He has coached several prolific quarterbacks, from Philip Rivers to Josh Rosen.
TAYLOR MAZZONE
Position: Outside receivers
Age: 30
Bio bits: The son of Noel Mazzone worked with his father at ASU, UCLA and Texas A&M. The younger Mazzone coached receivers and quarterbacks for the Bruins. He served as an offensive quality control coach at A&M. Mazzone played for Skip Holtz at East Carolina.
CLARENCE MCKINNEY
Position: Running backs
Age: 47
Bio bits: McKinney has worked for Sumlin since 2008. McKinney was Houston’s running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He coached running backs at A&M, where he also served as offensive coordinator in 2013. McKinney coached at three Houston high schools from 1997-2007.
JOHN RUSHING
Position: Safeties
Age: 45
Bio bits: Rushing spent last season as the safeties coach at Oregon State. He worked in the NFL from 2009-16 with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. Rushing is familiar with the West, having played at Washington State and coached at Boise State, Montana State and Utah State.
JEREMY SPRINGER
Position: Special teams
Age: 28
Bio bits: Springer worked under Sumlin the past three seasons as a quality control coach for special teams and tight ends. Before that he served as a graduate assistant at UTEP, his alma mater. Springer played linebacker for the Miners and had a team-high 70 tackles in 2011.
IONA UIAGALELEI
Position: Defensive line
Age: 41
Bio bits: Uiagalelei coached at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, from 2001-17. He became the Mounties’ defensive coordinator in 2006 and their associate head coach in ’10. Uiagalelei played at Mt. SAC and Southern Utah. His pupils at Mt. SAC included current Oakland Raider Bruce Irvin.
MARCEL YATES
Position: Defensive coordinator/linebackers
Age: 40
Bio bits: Yates played at Boise State and coached there for 11 seasons before coming to Arizona in January 2016. He took a detour to College Station from 2012-13, serving as Sumlin’s co-defensive coordinator and DB coach. Yates’ teams have played in bowl games in 14 of the past 15 seasons.
