Duane Akina

[Duckjake]

Rumors from the Longhorn message boards are that Texas asst coach Duane Akina is leaving UT to become DC at Arizona.

Anybody hear anything today on that?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Yup its on the Arizona boards as well. Good news. I am loving Anae (sp?) and Akina as hires and in my humble opinion are BIG improvements over their predecessors.

I will say this for Stoops. Somehow he sure seems to attract great coaching talent. Maybe because coordinators see a strong possibility of being names interim coach sooner rather then later

If only he could get players to come like he can coaches. Then we might on to something. Had another decommit to OSU today.

Oh well. Can't have it all. Akina shoud help recruit in Texas.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Huge. As Finest said, Stoops for all his other flaws sure as hell knows how to bring on assistants. I know Byrne is working really close with him this offseason to improve certain parts of his coaching so I'm hoping for a miracle that he gets better at certain things.

 

[Duckjake]

Huge. As Finest said, Stoops for all his other flaws sure as hell knows how to bring on assistants. I know Byrne is working really close with him this offseason to improve certain parts of his coaching so I'm hoping for a miracle that he gets better at certain things.

Darn, I was hoping it was just a rumor. Akina is a great DB coach. Was DB coach at Texas in 2005 when they sent 5 defensive backs from that team to the NFL over the next two drafts. 4 of them first round selections. Aaron Ross, Michael Huff, Michael Griffin and Cedric Griffin as well as Tarell Brown of the 49ers.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I know Byrne is working really close with him this offseason to improve certain parts of his coaching so I'm hoping for a miracle that he gets better at certain things.

I think this is a really big part of it. I read how Byrne has been meeting with Stoops on representing the University better and to allow the focus to be on his coaching rather then his game day antics. This is opposed to Jim Livengood who ran a free for all and was ONLY worried about keeping the AD in the black.

I know Byrne brilliantly politicked for UA to be in the Alamo Bowl and I have to think he has a hand in selling the University to these highly regarded assistants because I also read (via Twitter) that he was very integral to Anae and was excited about him. Akina of course has been in Tucson before, but he took a paycut to come to UA over Texas? Really?! I mean I know there are reports Mack Brown is tough to deal with but what an absolute coup by the school.

In terms of best things to happen to UA it goes:

1A) Sean Miller
1B) Greg Byrne

Mao any idea how close Miller and Byrne are? Do you see this as a stepping stone role for Byrne specifically or is he vested in Tucson for a bit?

Either way home run acquisition on both sides.

 

[Duckjake]

Well it looks now like Texas wanted Jerry Gray to come back and coach and that Akina leaving was part of that. Had to be because Gray was announced as the new DB coach just this afternoon.

 

[Chaplin]

So much for that good news:
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/ua/...0214duane-akina-leaves-arizona-for-texas.html