Bringing in a familiar face to the program for 2023, Arizona Football has hired Duane Akina to become a Defensive Analyst for the Wildcats.
The 2023 Arizona Football season may be several months away, but Jedd Fisch and the Wildcats are having an eventful off-season, bringing in several key recruits, as well as a familiar face in Duane Akina.
Making news on Wednesday afternoon, Arizona Football announced the hiring of Akina as a Defensive Analyst, and coming in he will help bolster the defensive staff for the Wildcats.
Arizona adds longtime 'Desert Swarm' assistant Duane Akina to coaching staff https://t.co/quC5lohnDn pic.twitter.com/ZBl2CKj7Bd
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 1, 2023
A former defensive coach for the Wildcats, Duane will be having a reunion of sorts as he returns to Tucson.
Joining Arizona’s staff, the hire of Duane Akina is a home run hire for Arizona Football as the Wildcats bring in a well-respected and knowledgeable coach.
Coming into the off-season Coach Fisch understood the need for the Wildcats to recruit well to raise the level of talent, but also continue to improve the product on the field, particularly on defense.
By bringing in Akina, he is a well-respected coach on the Wildcats’ staff, and his addition gives Arizona a bit of a competitive advantage off the field. He is well-connected in the world of recruiting, and his experience and knowledge of the game of football are going to have a huge impact on this program.
Here’s the resume of the Wildcats’ new analyst!
Duane Akina
Age: 66
Previous Position: Defensive Back Coach at Stanford
Alma Mater: Washington
Resume:
- Washington – 1976-79
- Washington (Graduate Assistant) – 1979-80
- Hawaii (Defensive Back Coach) – 1981-82
- Hawaii (Outside Linebacker Coach) – 1983
- Hawaii (Defensive Back Coach) – 1984-85
- Calgary Stampeders (Defensive Back Coach) – 1986
- Arizona (Defensive Back Coach) – 1987
- Arizona (Associate Head Coach / Defensive Back Coach) – 1989-91
- Arizona (Offensive Coordinator) – 1992-95
- Arizona (Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Back Coach) – 1996-00
- Texas (Defensive Back Coach) – 2001-02
- Texas (Associate Head Coach / Defensive Back Coach) – 2003-04
- Texas (Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Back Coach) – 2005-07
- Texas (Assistant Coach / Defensive Back Coach) – 2008-10
- Arizona (Defensive Back Coach) – 2011
- Texas (Associate Head Coach / Defensive Back Coach) – 2011-14
- Stanford (Defensive Back Coach) – 2014-22
Overall, this is a great hire for the Wildcats, and we are excited to see Duane back with Arizona Football!