Jed Fish proved to be a terrific hire for Arizona, but now, three seasons after resurrecting the Wildcats football program, he’s headed to Seattle to replace Kalen DeBoer in Washington. Who could Arizona target as it prepares to move to the Big 12?
The obvious choice to replace him is the last person Arizona was going to hire. San Jose State coach Brent Brennan. The 50-year-old former Arizona graduate assistant was coming off his best season at San Jose State in 2020 when his job last opened, as the Spartans went 7-1 and finished No. 24. Brennan stabilized the SJSU program and kept it going. To impress one of the toughest jobs in the FBS. Despite the added challenges that come with the new era of the new transfer portal, the Spartans have enjoyed consistent winning streaks. Brennan is well respected by his peers and the Arizona community. I guess he will be popular this time.
Washington State coach Jake Dickert. He has done an amazing job with many challenges and has brought much-needed stability to a program that has been reeling from every imaginable issue for the past five years. Nick Rolovich’s brief ouster came two years ago amid a public battle over the status of a Covid-19 vaccine. The Cougars had to deal with the deaths of two teammates from 2018, and then it was a matter of watching the school fall behind as the Pac-12 split and Wazu was stuck without a home. Dickert’s players credit him with bringing structure and showing passion on both sides of the ball. His record in three seasons is a modest 15-16, but that doesn’t come close to telling how good he’s been for the Cougars.
UNLV coach Barry Odom Since 2000, he has done a great job at the venue, winning only once. The Rebels went 9-5 in his first season, and the former Missouri coach made a lot of progress in his first time running a program. The 47-year-old from Oklahoma fits well in the Big 12 footprint and has deep ties in the state of Texas.
Arizona offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Brennan Carroll There will be some continuity from Fish’s rule, which will be attractive. The 44-year-old son of Pete Carroll is the former USC recruiting coordinator and was Fish’s right-hand man as he improved Arizona and turned the Wildcats into a top-25 team and a legitimate power on the West Coast. Carroll Jr.’s receiving and ground skills were a big key to Arizona’s growth.
Texas State coach GJ Kinne, 35, showed rapid growth. In his only season at FCS Incarnate Word, he led the program to a 12-2 season and a No. 3 ranking. This year, in his first season at Texas State, he led the Bobcats to an 8-5 record and a bowl win against a struggling program. He is a creative offensive mind that makes people in Tucson happy.
UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, Keane’s old college roommate in Tulsa, is another up-and-comer that deserves some consideration. The 36-year-old former Tulsa wideout helped Odom turn things around in Vegas. Marion’s Go-Go offense leads the MWC in scoring despite losing QB Doug Brumfield to injury in September. Marion turned to freshman QB Jayden Maiava to lead an offense that scored 40 points in UNLV’s first four straight games. Maiava has since transferred to USC.
Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, 34, is another interesting name. The former Louisville QB, who later became a Texas high school coach, made a rapid rise from UTSA’s offensive coordinator to a big first season at Oregon in 2023. The Ducks offense was No. 2 in the nation in yards per game.
(Top photo of Brent Brennan: Samuel Stringer / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)