Sources tell FootballScoop new Arizona head coach Brent Brennan has opted to make Duane Akina the defensive coordinator for his Wildcats.
Akina guided the defensive backs for Arizona under Jedd Fisch. Prior to Brennan's hire, Akina had accepted a position with Steve Sarkisian at Texas; but was quickly pulled back to Arizona by Brennan.
One of the most accomplished defensive backs coaches in the game, Akina has coached three Thorpe Award winners, six finalists, 12 All-Americans, 41 NFL defensive backs, and seven Pro Bowlers.
The 67-year-old has spent most of his career at Arizona and Texas. His first U of A stint came from 1987-2000 in a variety of important roles -- as defensive backs coach for the famed "Desert Swarm" defense, as defensive coordinator, as offensive coordinator, and then as defensive coordinator again.
Akina left Arizona for Texas in 2001. In 13 years there, he developed a number of future pros and helped the Longhorns win one national championship and play for another.
Akina then spent 2014-22 coaching defensive backs at Stanford before his return to Tucson.
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