Arizona Wildcats officially add LBs coach, special teams coordinator Danny Gonzales

Arizona officially announced the addition of linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Danny Gonzales on Thursday. 

Gonzales will join Arizona's defensive staff that includes longtime assistant and defensive coordinator Duane Akina, former San Jose State defensive line coach Joe Seumalo, "Stars" coach Brett Arce and cornerbacks coach Chip Viney. 

Although they're listed on the UA staff directory, the roles of safeties coach Chuck Cecil and defensive line coach Ricky Hunley, both Arizona legends and College Football Hall of Famers, remain unknown. 

Gonzales was the head coach at New Mexico, his alma mater, for four seasons and posted an 11-32 record. As a player, the Albuquerque native was a punter and safety for the Lobos.

After he served as a graduate assistant at New Mexico, Gonzales was promoted to safeties and special teams coach for the following three seasons from 2006-08. Gonzales joined Rocky Long's staff at San Diego State and was the Aztecs' safeties coach from 2011-16, before becoming SDSU's defensive coordinator in 2017. 

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For two seasons in 2018 and '19, Gonzales was Arizona State's defensive coordinator and associate head coach under Herm Edwards. Under Gonzales' direction, ASU linebacker Merlin Robertson was named the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and became the first Sun Devil freshman to lead the team in tackles since Jason Shivers in 2001.

In 2019, ASU ranked 22nd nationally in rushing defense and 19th in yards per carry (3.4) allowed 3.40. The Sun Devils were also 18th in college football with 22 takeaways during the '19 season. 

Arizona will play against Gonzales' alma mater New Mexico on Aug. 31 in Tucson to kick off the 2024 season.