Arizona football finalizes coaching staff, adds Noel Mazzone as OC

The Arizona Wildcats finalized their coaching staff under Kevin Sumlin Tuesday, announcing the hiring of 10 assistant coaches and a new offensive coordinator.

Noel Mazzone is Sumlin’s offensive coordinator, along with the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Mazzone has been a journeyman assistant coach since 1980. He has spent time with the New York Jets as a wide receivers 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.

Filling out the rest of the offensive staff is Clarence McKinney (running backs), Joe Gilbert (offensive line), Taylor Mazzone (outside receivers) and Theron Aych (inside receivers). Aych is returning for his second season at Arizona.

On defense, Marcel Yates is back for his third season with the Wildcats.

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 as the interim head coach following the firing of coach Rich Rodriguez due to a sexual harassment scandal that led to a $7.5 million claim against Rodriguez.

The staff under Yates, who will also coach the linebackers, will be Demetrice Martin (cornerbacks), John Rushing (safeties) and Iona Uiagalelei (defensive line).

Jeremy Springer will be the special teams coordinator while former Wildcat player Chuck Cecil returns for his second season as a senior defensive analyst.

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