A History of Leadership: University of Arizona Football Coaches
The Arizona Wildcats football program, representing the University of Arizona as a member of the Big 12 Conference, boasts a rich history dating back to its founding in 1899. Over 113 seasons, the team has participated in more than 1,100 games, guided by a total of 31 head coaches and two interim head coaches. This article delves into the history of these leaders, highlighting key figures and their contributions to the program.
The Pioneers of the Program
The early years of Arizona football saw a number of coaches leading the team, laying the foundation for the program's future. These early coaches include William W., Orin A., William M., H. B., Raymond L., Frank A., August W., and Warren B. While detailed records for these early coaches may be limited, their dedication established a tradition of football at the University of Arizona.
Coaches Who Led Arizona to Postseason Bowl Games
Nine coaches have guided Arizona to postseason bowl games, marking significant milestones in the program's history. These coaches include:
- Pop McKale
- Mike Casteel
- Darrell Mudra
- Tony Mason
- Larry Smith
- Dick Tomey
- Mike Stoops
- Rich Rodriguez
- Jedd Fisch
Coaching Longevity and Success
Several coaches have left an indelible mark on the Arizona football program, distinguished by their longevity and achievements.
Pop McKale: McKale holds the record for the most seasons coached, with a remarkable tenure of sixteen seasons.
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Dick Tomey: Tomey leads in total games won, with an impressive 90 victories. Brennan twice had the opportunity to learn from Dick Tomey, first as a graduate assistant at Arizona in 2000 and again as an assistant coach at San José State from 2005-09. His crossover with Tomey at SJSU included the Spartans impressive 9-4 campaign in 2006 that concluded with a victory over the University of New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl.
Leslie Gillett: Gillett boasts the highest winning percentage, with a perfect 1.000, though likely over a short period.
Mike Hankwitz: Hankwitz holds the unfortunate distinction of the lowest winning percentage among coaches who have led the team for more than one game, with a .143 record.
Tony Mason's Tenure and Departure
Tony Mason was hired ahead of the 1977 season after Jim Young, fresh off a 5-6 season but with a 31-13 overall record, left to be the head coach at Purdue. Mason, the former Cincinnati head coach from 1973-1976, wasn't finding so much luck. He wasn't able to do much in his first year in 1977, matching Young's five-win total from the year before. In 1978, Mason was tasked with leading the Wildcats in their move from the Western Athletic Conference to the Pac-8/10. His second season was only better by virtue of finishing with one fewer loss at 5-6, and Arizona struggled against its new conference foes, going 3-4 in the Pac-10. Mason and the Wildcats finally put it all together in 1979, where they finished the regular season 6-4-1 and qualified for a bowl game for the first time under Mason's leadership. However, Arizona was a paper tiger once bowl season came around, considering that Arizona only beat teams that sat at or below .500 on the season. The illusion came crashing down in the 1979 Fiesta Bowl, where the Wildcats fell short 16-10 to then-No. 10 Pitt to end the season on yet another somber note.
Just a few months later, a scandal would emerge regarding the mismanagement of school finances. Right as university officials were set to investigate the alleged corruption, Mason suddenly resigned. The results of the investigation found that $4,800 (approx. $18,000 adjusted for inflation) in plane tickets that were not for recruiting and were never used were listed on an expense report. Players were also working in the offseason, which was not permitted by the NCAA at the time. Though he claimed that his resignation was not an admission of guilt, the optics of it never looked great. He was succeeded by Larry Smith, who only posted a record below .500 in his first season while dealing with the fallout from Mason's messy departure.
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Brent Brennan: The New Era Begins
After a swift two-day search, former San Jose State University head coach Brent Brennan is set to become the 31st head coach of the Arizona football team. Arizona’s new football head coach Brent Brennan in a n introductory press conference in McKale Center on Tuesday Jan. 16. The news emerged on the evening of Jan. Then today, Tuesday, Jan. Brennan is coming to the UA from San Jose State University and will be the 31 head coach for Wildcats. Brent Brennan was named Head Coach of Arizona Football in January of 2024.
The 50-year-old Brennan will take the reins of a Wildcats team that concluded the previous season with a 10-3 record, an Alamo Bowl victory over No. 12 University of Oklahoma and securing a No. 11 ranking in the final Associated Press Top 25. This ranking marked the program’s highest in nine years and tied for the second-highest in a final poll, behind the No. 4 finish following the 1998 season when the Wildcats went 12-1. However, coupled with this decision, Arizona lost its defensive coordinator, Johnny Nansen to the University of Texas and former head coach, Jedd Fisch to the University of Washington.
Brennan, 52, is an experienced leader in college football who enjoyed two stints coaching under legendary Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, the winningest coach in program history. The San José native first learned under Tomey with the Wildcats as a graduate assistant in 2000, and again from 2005-09 at SJSU as an assistant coach. The ties between Brennan and the University of Arizona run deep, with Brent’s brother Bradley playing five years as a wide out in Tucson under Tomey, and Brent’s wife Courtney being an alumna of the University.
Among a multitude of accomplishments at San José State, Brennan became the first head coach in SJSU history to lead the Spartans to three bowl games in a four-year span. The 2023 season at San José State saw Brennan’s Spartans charge down the final stretch of the season, winning six consecutive conference games to close out the regular season and earn a bowl berth. During that six-game stretch Brennan’s offense averaged over 38 points per game while the defense held opponents to a meager 17.8 points per game. SJSU’s offensive efforts were fueled by ball security, turning the ball over just 10 times, the best mark in the Mountain West and the ninth best in the nation.
Brennan began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Washington and Arizona. His experience includes a stint as a graduate assistant during the Wildcats’ final year under head coach Dick Tomey. Brennan had a brief stint at Oregon State University from 2011-16, coaching standout Brandin Cooks, who won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2013. In 2020, Brennan guided the Spartans to a 7-1 record, securing their first Mountain West Conference championship. With a 34-48 record as a head coach at San Jose State, Brennan’s consistent performance in recent years made him a standout candidate for the Arizona job. Brennan’s ties to Arizona include an interview for the head coaching position after Kevin Sumlin’s departure in 2020.
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“I am so blessed and excited to come back to the University of Arizona,” Brennan said. “This incredible university is special to my family and I as it’s where I started as a coach as part Coach Tomey’s legacy. I can’t wait to meet the players, families, fans, alumni and supporters and build on the success the players and staff have started. Across time as a coach and player, Brennan has been part of nine teams that reached bowl games including in each of the last two years at San José State.
A former wide receiver during his playing days, Brennan has long been regarded as an exceptional offensive mind. Prior to his second stint in San José, Brennan logged six seasons coaching wide receivers at Oregon State where he and the offensive staff fielded some of the most dangerous offenses in the country. Brennan also logged time with Cal Poly (2001-04) as an assistant coach. His playing career spanned five seasons at UCLA as a wide receiver, where he lettered as part of the Bruins 1993 Rose Bowl team.
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