Former Wildcat Robert Golden returns to 'second home' as Arizona's honorary captain

Former standout Arizona defensive back Robert Golden returned to Tucson this weekend to serve as the honorary captain for the Wildcats’ Big 12 home opener against Texas Tech on Saturday.

Golden, who played under former UA head coach Mike Stoops from 2008-11, is the third honorary captain this season, along with ex-Arizona star cornerback Chris McAlister and kicker Max Zendejas.

“Tucson, that’s like my second home,” Golden said on Friday. “To be able to come back and reconnect with fans and some of the guys and see what the new coaching staff is implementing from a culture standpoint, it’s going to be very exciting. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Golden played for the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent for six seasons. Golden recorded 80 tackles in 92 games and was the Steelers’ special teams captain in 2016. Golden briefly signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 before he retired leading up to the season to open Golden Charter Academy, a K-8 school, in his hometown of Fresno, California, where the curriculum is centered around the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

Back in Tucson this weekend, Golden is not only reuniting with the school and football program he played for, he’s paying a visit to his longtime friend and former teammate Chip Viney, the Wildcats’ cornerbacks coach. Golden and Viney were teammates at Edison High School in Fresno.

“Viney and I go way back,” Golden said.

“It’s been a relationship and brotherhood that we’ve established,” Golden said. “I’m excited that he gets to witness and experience the Tucson culture and family experience that’s out there, the same way I experienced it during my college days.”

Viney, who played cornerback at UCLA, was moved to safety, “because Rob could just shut down one side of the field and I knew how to fit the box and the run.”

“Man, that’s one of my best friends. We still keep in touch. That’s like a brother to me. I’m really proud of him for what he did for this university on to the NFL and what he’s doing now back in our hometown and our community with Golden Charter Academy,” Viney said. “Rob is awesome. There’s a ton of stories I could tell you offline about my recruitment and the process.

“I’ll tell you this: I was very close to being a Wildcat. When Rob came to school here, as most freshmen do, he was having some hard times and Rob and I talked a lot. The one thing that I remember him saying to me, when we were both playing, was the people here, the place, the school and how much he loved it. When I got the job and got a call from him, he said those same words to me. Being here, in the short time that I’ve been here, I can attest to that, too, now.”

Golden joined “Spears and Ali” on ESPN Tucson this week to talk about updates with Golden Charter Academy — and the possibility of a campus coming to Tucson. Here’s what Golden said:

What’s new with Golden Charter Academy since you opened up its doors in 2021?

A: “We’re the first environmental stewardship zoo school in the nation. We really get to give our students the opportunity to learn about conservation and environmental literacy.

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“What really makes us different is we’re not just teaching the students the knowledge and skills they need to make the right decisions regarding the environment, but we actually set dates for them to go out and put their hands in the dirt and make a very positive impact on the environment.

“We’ve been able to do some really cool things. We have over 700 students on our waiting list. We’re at max capacity right now, but Fresno is just the first of many zoos I’m working with.

“Hopefully we can bring another educational model to other zoos looking to do similar things. Before you know it, hopefully we’re coming to Tucson to do something with Reid Park Zoo in the near future.

“I’m definitely excited about the trajectory of being able to transform what education looks like, and to have in my hometown where I grew up, it’s truly an honor. I’m excited every day that I get to step on this campus and see the lives that we’re impacting with these students.”

Can you peel back the curtain and share the challenges of having a unique school like Golden Charter Academy?

A: “Being in the third-biggest district, Fresno Unified School District, there’s a lot that goes on with that. Being able to develop the school is one thing, but collaborating with the zoo to build curriculum that not only aligns with the state standard, but aligns with the next generation of science standards.

“That’s a whole deal in itself. From my standpoint, as the CEO of the school, I’m always looking to bring on additional resources.

“We’re also in the middle of building our state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, so I’m doing a lot of project management with that. I have a principal and an assistant principal and they’re here leading the curriculum.

“No one day is the same for me ever, but it’s definitely exciting to come on campus and see the smiles on the kids’ faces every day. It’s bigger than education when you talk to some of the students who attend this school. We’re giving them opportunities and exposure that’s different than what they’re accustomed to in their neighborhoods. I truly feel honored and blessed to be living in my purpose and doing this work.”

How did you come up with the concept of Golden Charter Academy?

A: “Growing up where I grew up in southwest Fresno, there are a lot of underserved and under-resourced people living in those communities. If you want change, you have to be the change. When it came to me putting this school, it was all about community engagement and taking action.

“I wanted to let our students know that if you want to make your neighborhood better, more sustainable, healthier and bring different resources to the community, you gotta be the voice and the change to do it. When I started to play with this idea, I got to connect with the lead environmental educator at Fresno State and she introduced me to environmental education and what that would look like.

“Missions aligned and we were able to put something together that is really special.”