Report: Sumlin plans to retain DC Yates, add Mazzone as Arizona OC
Jan 14, 2018, 2:57 PM | Updated: 9:52 pm
Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin walks the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Arizona’s new head coach, Kevin Sumlin, plans to retain defensive coordinator Marcel Yates and name Noel Mazzone his offensive coordinator, according to Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated.
Sumlin is also expected to bring in Clarence McKinney as running backs coach.
Yates served defensive coordinator in 2017 for the Wildcats and was a candidate to become the next head coach. Sumlin and Yates worked together during Sumlin’s first two seasons at Texas A&M before Yates decided to return his alma mater and became defensive coordinator for Boise State.
He led Arizona for a brief time through the recruiting season, since Jan. 2, as the interim head coach. Yates took over following the firing of coach Rich Rodriguez due to a sexual harrassment scandal that led to a $7.5 million claim against Rodriguez.
On the offensive side of the ball, Mazzone has been a journeyman assistant coach since 1980. He has spent time with the New York Jets as a wide receiver coach and been the offensive coordinator for eight different teams since 1998, including a stint with the rival Arizona State Sun Devils.
Mazzone coached under ASU’s Dennis Erickson from 2010-11 before leaving for UCLA from 2012-15. He spent the last two seasons as Sumlin’s offensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
McKinney, the running backs coach, inherits J.J. Taylor who led all Pac-12 freshman in rushing last season. McKinney has been an assistant coach at University of Houston since 2010 where Sumlin worked before taking the job at Texas A&M.
