Report: Arizona football to hire Craig Naivar as new special teams coordinator

The Arizona Wildcats football program has hired Craig Naivar as its next special teams coordinator, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Naivar last worked as the defensive coordinator/safeties coach at Coastal Carolina for two seasons. Before Naivar and Coastal Carolina parted ways after the 2024 season, the coach was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2023, as one of the nation’s best assistant coaches in college football. He has also spent time as the special teams coordinator at SMU, Texas, Kentucky and Rice.

The 53-year-old will replace Danny Gonzales who was promoted to the defensive coordinator position after spending last season as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator under coach Brent Brennan.

Seth Doege assumed the offensive coordinator position in December.

The Wildcats also added 53 new players to the football roster, including 23 high school players, five community college transfers and 25 university transfers. Arizona begins spring practice on March 18, and the school’s Spring Showcase will be held on April 19 at 7 p.m.

Arizona will then open its second season as a member of the Big 12 with a nonconference game against Hawaii on Aug. 30.

Related

Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan bypassing NFL Draft Combine drillsArizona defensive coach Duane Akina reportedly to become Texas' DBs coachCourt rulings grant NCAA athletes from high school class of 2022 another year of eligibilityASU-Arizona Territorial Cup among top 5 rivalries in nation, study saysASU football to face toughest 2026 schedule among Big 12 teams, per ESPN metricsArizona rolls out Heisman Trophy campaign for QB Noah Fifita at Big 12 Media Days