Rob Ianello, in his second season at Akron, is one of six former Arizona assistants who are head coaches. Photo by Jason Miller-US PRESSWIRE
Football camps are soon going to be starting all over the country … do you know where your former Arizona Wildcats assistant coaches are? Hint: Start in Colorado.
Having updated my list from last year, there are, by my count, 46 former Arizona Wildcats football coaches who are active in coaching college or professional football.
(I guess that number should be 47 if you count Jeff Hammerschmidt, who is both a former and current UA assistant coach.)
Four of those ex-UA assistants are first-year coaches at new Pac-12 member Colorado, including two who jumped from Tucson to Boulder after last season — Greg Brown and Mike Tuiasosopo.
You have to have a longer, sharper memory to identify the other two — Bobby Kennedy (who spent one year at Arizona under John Mackovic) and Rip Scherer (who was the coordinator for run-heavy offenses in 1989 and 1990).
Going back the furthest? That would be Mike Hankwitz, whose first full-time coaching job came in 1973 at Arizona under Jim Young. Hankwitz, who later served as interim head coach for the Wildcats in 2003 after Mackovick’s dismissal, is still going strong as the defensive coordinator at a solid Northwestern program.
Six of these ex-Cat assistants are head coaches, including Rich Ellerson, a Salpointe Catholic High School graduate. In his second season last year, he took the Black Knights to their first bowl game since 1996.
Here’s a look at all the former UA assistants and where they are now in coaching, with years at Arizona followed by current occupation. Italics denote that the coach is in his first year with that team.
Duane Akina, 1987-2000
Texas, assistant head coach/defensive backs
Pete Alamar, 1995-1999
Fresno State, specials teams/tight ends
Bobby April, 1980-1986
Philadelphia Eagles, special teams coordinator
Steve Axman, 1980-1984
Idaho, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Dino Babers, 1995-2000
Baylor, receivers/special teams coordinator
John Baxter, 1990-1991
USC, associate head coach/special teams
Bill Bedenbaugh, 2007-10
West Virginia, offensive line
Gary Bernardi, 1983-1986
San Jose State, offensive line
Jay Boulware, 2001-2003
Auburn, specials teams coordinator/tight ends
Craig Bray, 2003
Arizona State, defensive coordinator/safeties
Clarence Brooks, 1990-1992
Baltimore Ravens, defensive line
Greg Brown, 2010
Colorado, defensive coordinator/secondary
Charlie Camp, 2002
Akron, linebackers
Mike Canales, 2004-2006
North Texas, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Gerald Carr, 1991
Virginia Destroyers (UFL), running backs
Charlie Dickey, 1992-2003
Kansas State, offensive line
Dana Dimel, 2005-09
Kansas State, co-offensive coordinator/running backs
Kasey Dunn, 2004-2006
Oklahoma State, receivers
Sonny Dykes, 2007-2009
Louisiana Tech, head coach
Rich Ellerson, 1992-1995; 1997-2000
Army, head coach
Mike Hankwitz, 1973-1976; 2003
Northwestern, defensive coordinator
Jeff Hecklinski, 2003
Michigan, wide receivers
Josh Heupel, 2005
Oklahoma, co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
Pat Hill, 1990-1991
Fresno State, head coach
Rob Ianello, 1993-2002
Akron, head coach
Bobby Kennedy, 2001
Colorado, wide receivers
Marty Long, 1996-2003
Northwestern, defensive line
Johnnie Lynn, 1988-1993
Philadelphia Eagles, cornerbacks
Larry Mac Duff, 1987-1996, 2001-02
Las Vegas Locomotives (UFL), defensive coordinator/special teams
Ron McBride, 1987-1989
Weber State, head coach
John Matsko, 1986
Carolina Panthers, offensive line
Bob Palcic, 1984-1985
UCLA, offensive line
Joe Robinson, 2004-2007
North Carolina, defensive line
Rip Scherer, 1989-1990
Colorado, assistant head coach/quarterbacks
Clarence Shelmon, 1984-1986
San Diego Chargers, offensive coordinator
Michael Smith, 2007-09
Kansas State, receivers
Richard Smith, 1987
Denver Broncos, linebackers
Steve Spurrier Jr., 2004
South Carolina, receivers
Mark Stoops, 2004-2009
Florida State, defensive coordinator
Mike Tuiasosopo, 2004-2010
Colorado, defensive line
Charlie Williams, 2004-2006
North Carolina, receivers
Ted Williams, 1994
Philadelphia Eagles, running backs
Eric Wolford, 2004-2006
Youngstown State, head coach
Kevin Wolthausen, 1985-1986
Las Vegas Locomotives (UFL), defensive line
Jeff Woodruff, 1998-1999
UTEP, assistant head coach/tight ends
Darrell Wyatt, 2007
Texas, co-recruiting coordinator/wide receivers