Danny Gonzales Named Arizona Defensive Coordinator

Arizona has promoted Danny Gonzales to defensive coordinator and hired former player Joe Salave'a as associate head coach and defensive line coach. Gonzales, who previously served as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, has considerable experience including being the defensive coordinator at San Diego State and Arizona State. Salave'a returns to his alma mater after coaching at Miami (Fla.), Oregon, and Washington State, bringing a winning pedigree to the program. The Wildcats faced a challenging season with injuries impacting their defense, which ranked poorly in both scoring and rushing defense. Coach Brent Brennan expressed confidence in Gonzales's abilities to lead and develop a strong defensive unit. The reshuffling aims to improve Arizona's defensive performance ahead of the 2025 season.