Jeff Casteel Reunites With Rich Rodriguez At Arizona

Jeff Casteel Reunited With Rich Rodriguez, Named Arizona's Defensive Coordinator

There were reports that West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel was going to reunite with his former boss, the now head coach of the Arizona Wildcats Rich Rodriquez. The report would seemingly be true given the fact that Casteel now has a bio page on the Wildcats official website. Interestingly enough, this line in his bio is from the future:

Veteran defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel was appointed to take over Arizona's defense on Jan. 11. He'll also coach linebackers in the second level of UA's scheme.

While Casteel has a bio on the team's website, there has not been an announcement or confirmation from the school. In fact West Virginia spokesperson Mike Montero would not confirm that Casteel had already quit to take the Arizona position. "As far as I know, he hasn't taken a job anywhere," Montoro told the Arizona Daily Star. "I haven't been told anything. As far as I know, he's still our defensive coordinator."

Casteel had worked at West Virginia since the 2001 season, starting as the defensive line coach and taking over as the defensive coordinator in 2003. Casteel is known for using his 3-3-5 defensive scheme, which utilizes three down lineman and at least five defensive backs.

It is expected that Arizona will make a formal announcement "at the end of the day" according to the Arizona Daily Star.

For more updates on Rich Rod's Cats, keep a close eye on Wildcats blog Arizona Desert Swarm and SB Nation Arizona. Here's our 2011 College Football Coaching Carousel Tracker.

Jeff Casteel Close To Becoming Arizona Defensive Coordinator, According To Report

Rich Rodriguez, 10-Win Michigan Man

Rich Rodriguez' Arizona Coaching Staff Adds Fourth Member

After picking up a trio of assistants from the Pittsburgh Panthers, new Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez has added a member of Kevin Wilson's Indiana Hoosiers staff. 

Last week, Pitt co-offensive coordinator Calvin Magee, secondary coach Tony Gibson, and tight end coach Tony Dews joined Rodriguez in Tucson. This time, it's Indiana co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith, who played for Rodriguez at Glenville and coached with him at Clemson, West Virginia, and Michigan. The gang's getting back together.

Smith will have the same job title in Arizona.

Here's Wilson on losing Smith:

We appreciate Rod's efforts with us this season," Wilson said. "We're sorry to see him leave and wish him and his family the very best. Rod has a long-standing relationship with Coach Rodriguez and we understand his decision."As we move forward, we'll take our time to find the fit for our coaching staff that will keep our program headed in a positive direction."    

For more updates on Rich Rod's Cats, keep a close eye on Wildcats blog Arizona Desert Swarm and SB Nation Arizona. Here's our 2011 College Football Coaching Carousel Tracker.

Ensuring Rich Rodriguez Sounded Like An Arizona Man

Greg Byrne, Photojournalist And Biographer

Rich Rodriguez Wants Arizona Coaching Staff Built By Christmas

Tuesday, new Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez (it feels great to type!) gave a bit of insight into the program he'll run in Tucson. Our Arizona blog, AZ Desert Swarm, provided coverage here, if you'd like to catch up. Anyone anticipating a matchup between the Spread 'n' Shred and Chip Kelly's Oregon Ducks won't be disappointed by this quote:

We're gonna play fast. I think the huddle is the biggest waste of time in football.

Rodriguez said he wants to put his staff together about two weeks after the regular season ends, and hopefully by Christmas. 

He also gave his new beat guys some insight into the history of his noted offense, explaining that it came about because his Glennville State squad needed speed to overcome its size advantage. The Wildcats don't surrender quite as much on the lines to the USC Trojans as GSU did to (/looks it up) West Virginia State and Fairmont State (maybe those are big teams!), but his attack should still function as an equalizer, once properly developed.

And, yes, he acknowledged he'd "heard about" Matt Scott, the dual-threat QB most are projecting as his new favorite weapon.

For more updates on Rich Rod's Cats, keep a close eye on Wildcats blog Arizona Desert Swarm and SB Nation Arizona.

What Is Arizona Football, Anyway?

Rich Rodriguez To Arizona: Good Track Record And Guaranteed Growing Pains

Despite his performance at Michigan, Rich Rodriguez takes over Arizona football as a proven, young coach with what is, to say the least, an intriguing track record. But it's okay: you can still be disappointed that you don't get to watch Nick Foles running a Rodriguez offense.

Rich Rodriguez Officially Named Arizona Wildcats New Head Coach

Former Michigan and West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has been hired by the University of Arizona as their new head football coach.

Rich Rodriguez To Be Named Arizona Wildcats New Head Coach, According To Reports

Urban Meyer Discusses Arizona Job, Declines

Former Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer met with officials at the University of Arizona last week to discuss their vacant head football coaching job but declined the offer, according to the New York Times.

The person said that Meyer, who has expressed his desire to return to coaching, was intrigued but informed Byrne in a telephone call Monday night that he was not going to pursue the job.

Meyer is arguably the No. 1 free agent candidate for any college football program looking for a head coach. He is considered the leading candidate for the Ohio State and Penn State positions, which are both expected to be open after this year. Both positions are currently held by interim head coaches (Luke Fickell and Tom Brdley, respectively).

Meyer released a statement last week stating that he was not interested in the Penn State position and was happy with his current position as a commentator at ESPN.

The Arizona Wildcats fired head coach Mike Stoops earlier this season after the team's 1-5 start.

Meyer won 65 games and two national championships in six seasons with Florida before leaving to spend more time with his family.

For more on the Arizona Wildcats, head over to the blog Arizona Desert Storm and SB Nation Arizona. For comprehensive coverage around the NCAA, check out SB Nation's College Football hub.

Replacing Mike Stoops: Arizona AD Greg Byrne Talks Dan Mullen

In the third quarter of the Arizona Wildcats' bludgeoning of the UCLA Bruins, athletic director Greg Byrne mercifully crowded Craig James out of the booth to answer a few questions from Rece Davis. The primary topic, of course, was the replacement of former Zona coach Mike Stoops, who was fired 10 days prior to the game.

Of most interest were his thoughts on Mississippi St. Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen, whom Byrne once hired as MSU's AD. As transcribed by Brandon Marcello:

"Dan was an offensive coordinator when we hired him there," Byrne said during the third quarter of the telecast late Thursday night. "We just want to make sure we have the right fit. If that's an existing head coach, that's great. If it's a coordinator, that's wonderful as well. As you go through this process, I knew with Dan, as soon as we spent tome time together, I felt that would be a great fit. I think we'll have the same thing happen here at Arizona as well."    

No definite way to take any of that, of course, but it's only going to further stir speculation that Mullen could be considered for the Zona job, which would offer him both better resources and a less competitive division.

Moments later, Jesse Palmer speculated on potential Wildcats hires, listing Mullen and Houston Cougars coach Kevin Sumlin along with former Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Mike Leach. He listed Leach as a candidate for a job at a school that would be an upgrade over Texas Tech, and did so mere feet away from James, who got Leach fired for no good reason in the first place.

For one evening, Palmer was the Internet's favorite college football television analyst.

For more on the Arizona Wildcats, head over to the blog Arizona Desert Storm and SB Nation Arizona. For comprehensive coverage around the NCAA, check out SB Nation's College Football hub.

Arizona Wildcats Job Pretty Much Sells Itself

Mike Stoops Fired, And Arizona Football Fans React

Arizona's firing of football coach Mike Stoops does not seem to have come as much of a surprise. The Wildcats are currently on a 10-game losing streak against FBS opponents and are 1-5 this season.

It's true that Stoops took over a program that was in shambles. He succeeded in turning that around, but as Arizona Desert Swarm points out, the problem was that after initial success Stoops was never able to get his team over the hump:

His rebuilding peaked.

He was brought to the Arizona Wildcats to bring a two-win team from 2003 out of the basement following the ugly departure of John Mackovic. He did that.

Then, you know the rest of the story. Incremental growth in his first four seasons finally led to a bowl berth in his fourth, the first in nine seasons for the Wildcats. Arizona won the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl against BYU and followed it up with shellackings against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl of 2009 and Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl of 2010.

Over at SB Nation Arizona, they point out that Stoops' tenure had plenty of fond memories. The best of those may have been the Wildcats' upset of Arizona State in 2004:

To this day, I'm not sure I have ever heard a louder Arizona Stadium than I did that sunny afternoon in November. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was perfect, and, most importantly, the game was perfect. Arizona Football was fun again for the first time in a long time.

Although not particularly vested in his success, Addicted to Quack points out that one of Stoops' problems was one of perception:

His antics were clearly hurting the team. I don't wish ill will on Mike Stoops, and hope he learns to be a better coach wherever he lands. But, as we've said repeatedly on our podcasts, his behavior on the sidelines was an embarrassment to his program, the conference, and college football. It wasn't good for the kids playing the game.

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Arizona Fires Mike Stoops: Life After Glen Mason Territory

Mike Stoops rebuilt Arizona's football program, but was fired while rebuilding its roster through a merciless opening schedule. How far did he guide the Wildcats, and how far can they go without him?

Mike Stoops' Statement After Being Fired By Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats have lost five of their first six games this year, and the school made head coach Mike Stoops the fall guy earlier tonight by firing him after eight seasons. In response to the news, Stoops released the following the statement, reminding everybody what he did right before this season's poor start (courtesy of the Tucson Citizen):

"I am very proud of the Wildcat football program and the many accomplishments we have enjoyed. Topping that list is our qualifying for consecutive bowl games the past three seasons for only the second time in school history.

"I am also proud of the success our players demonstrated off the field. Not only has our team Academic Progress Rate (APR) improved significantly each of the past five years, but also our players have made great strides in conducting themselves in a manner that reflects the ideals of this University.

"When I took this job, I was hoping to be the first coach to lead this program to a Rose Bowl. Although we fell short of that goal, we made significant progress, and our organization continues to strive for excellence.

"I wish the entire Wildcat football program the best of luck going forward, and I thank the University of Arizona for the opportunity to be a part of the successes we have achieved over the past eight seasons."

Mike Stoops Fired By Arizona Wildcats

Arizona will reportedly fire head coach Mike Stoops after the Wildcats started the 2011 season with a 1-5 record.