Reports: Arizona fires defensive line coach Iona Uiagalelei
Nov 21, 2019, 12:55 PM | Updated: 1:00 pm
Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin reacts to an official's call in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Southern Utah, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Wildcats head football coach Kevin Sumlin has fired defensive line coach Iona Uiagalelei, according to multiple reports.
The Arizona Daily Star’s Michael Lev confirmed the move on Thursday.
Uiagalelei was hired away from his defensive coordinator post at Mt. San Antonio College in California before the 2018 season and did not have FBS experience prior to his arrival at Arizona.
WildcatAuthority.com’s Jason Scheer reports that defensive analyst Greg Patrick will take on Uiagalelei’s position as defensive line assistant.
Uiagalelei’s firing is the third of a defensive assistant coach this season. Wildcats defensive coordinator Marcel Yates and linebackers coach John Rushing were relieved of their duties on Oct. 27.
Former Arizona great Chuck Cecil assumed the coordinator job in the initial shakeup by Sumlin after serving as a senior defensive analyst, while former UA linebacker Hank Hobson took over at the linebacker coaching opportunity. He was also an analyst.
Arizona makes the latest firing after a 34-6 loss Saturday to the No. 6 Oregon Ducks. While the Wildcats held Oregon to 3.5 yards per rush for 138 yards on the ground, they allowed quarterback Justin Herbert to sit in the pocket and complete 20 of 28 passes for 333 yards.
Herbert, who threw four touchdowns, was sacked three times and hurried on two more throws.
The Wildcats (4-6) sit at the bottom of the Pac-12 with 13 total sacks on the season, and their defense is 11th by allowing 315.4 passing yards per game and ninth by allowing 164.8 rushing yards per game.
This week, the Wildcats host the No. 7 Utah Utes in Tucson.
