It came as no surprise that new Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez announced the hiring of three assistant coaches today, one day after those three left the coaching staff at Pittsburgh.
All three have worked under Rodriguez at West Virginia and Michigan.
The new UA assistants are Calvin Magee, who will be the associate head coach/offensive coordinator and running backs coach, receivers coach Tony Dews and defensive assistant Tony Gibson, who could end up having extra responsibility, Rodriguez said. Gibson was the special teams coordinator at Michigan in 2010.
“They did not leave Pitt to pursue other opportunities,” Rodriguez said. “I pursued them. I’m tickled to death to have them.
“They fit the criteria. They are very good teachers and coaches. They are outstanding recruiters. And they’re good people.”
They will arrive in Tucson on Wednesday to begin work.
Rodriguez said it is still possible he might re-hire some of the coaches from Arizona’s 2011 coaching staff. His next big hire figures to be defensive coordinator, because he said he wants his coordinators to have input on the selection of the other assistants.
Speculation has centered on Rodriguez bringing in West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel.