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Arizona Football Hires new Special Teams Coach from Ohio State

By Eric Townsend

Nov 5, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez runs out onto the field prior to game against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez runs out onto the field prior to game against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Weeks after searching, head coach Rich Rodriguez and the Arizona Football team have hired a new coach on offense from Ohio State.

Once again, the Wildcats have a full coaching staff as Brian Knorr of Ohio State has decided to join the Arizona Football family. The banner on his Twitter page @Brian_Knorr has already been updated to showcase Arizona’s football stadium.

News seemingly broke on Sunday that a hire had likely been made and that Knorr, the Quality Control Director with the Buckeyes will be taking over special teams duties here at Arizona.

Knorr comes to Arizona, with plenty of experience in coaching college football. Just based on his resume/bio from the OSU website, he has quite the impressive background.

A former quarterback at the Air Force Academy, Knorr would go on to serve in the Armed Forces before entering the coaching ranks.

"1982-85: Played QB at Air Force1992-94: Assistant OL Coach at Air Force1995-2000: Inside Linebackers Coach & Defensive Coordinator (’99-’00) at Ohio University2001-04: Head Coach at Ohio University2005-07: Defensive Coach at Air Force2008-13: Assistant at Wake Forest University2014-15: Defensive Coordinator at Indiana University2016: Quality Control Director at Ohio State University"

Knorr will come to Arizona to replace the recently departed special team’s coach, Charlie Ragle, and will certainly have a few experienced pieces to work with.

The Wildcats will return Josh Pollack, the redshirt junior kicker from Highland Park, Illinois, as well as the trio of punters; Jake Glatting, Matt Aragon, and Alex Merrywell. Additionally, Arizona signed Lucas Havrisik, the big-leg kicker from Southern California this past recruiting class.

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It is worth noting, that the Wildcats ranked 76th in net punt yards, with an average of 37 yards per punt. Arizona also connected on all 36 extra point attempts last season and were just nine of 16 on their field goal attempts as well.

The challenge will be on early, as Rodriguez and the Wildcats certainly look to improve this area heading into the 2017 season. It wasn’t necessarily an area that played “poorly” last year, but there are definitely opportunities to improve upon.

Football is very much about being disciplined and performing in all three areas of the game. Special teams can win you some games, just as easily as it can lose you some as well!

It is so crucial to execute on Special teams, and we seemed to have left many points off the board last season.

Here is a taste of our new coach from bowl game press conference film we found. We are all looking forward to an improved special teams performance this season.

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At Zona Zealots, we’re certainly excited about the hire of Knorr. It seems Rodriguez is really valuing coaching experience with his recent hires, and we would like to welcome Brian to Tucson! Bear Down, Arizona!

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