Texas Coaching Carousel: Who's Next? Duane Akina, That's Who
by TXStampede on Feb 14, 2011 10:24 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Football
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PrintJust when you thought the offseason story line couldn't get any more delirious, breaking reports stating Duane Akina is headed back to Austin. Hookem.com's Bobby Burton reports as per the University of Arizona's AD:
University of Arizona defensive back coach Duane Akina is returning to the University of Texas, according to Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne.
"Duane Akina alerted Coach Stoops & myself this morning that he would be returning to Texas due to family considerations," Byrne wrote on Twitter.
Akina left Texas roughly one month ago after a 10-year stint with Texas and coach Mack Brown.
At Texas, Akina coached two Thorpe Award winners, Aaron Ross and Michael Huff, and four first-round draft picks (Huff, Ross, Michael Griffin and Quentin Jammer).
With the first Junior Day under our belts, his returning is, well frankly, not a moment too soon.
Duane Akina's resume is chocked full of all-star effort. He has put more DB's in the league than arguably any current Assistant Coach in college football (someone check me on that, please). A fan favorite, his knowledge of the program and, more importantly, his relationship with Mack Brown, will settle the nerves of Longhorn faithful.
Update 12:45 a.m. EST 2/14/11 - While no official UT Athletics Department statement has been released on the news, it is interesting to note that the UT H.R. department has pulled the job posting originally reported here on this site earlier today.
Update 9:00 p.m. EST 2/14/11 - Mack Brown and Duane Akina met with the media this afternoon and the UT Athletics department posted a release. A jubilant Mack Brown stated, "We're so excited to have Duane back. Like everyone within our program, he will be starting out with a fresh, new, clean slate." Hopefully he is starting out with a couple hundred K more in compensation, too.
More information will be forthcoming. In the mean time, this is your celebration thread, I think.
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Welcome back Duane and mustache
Sanders and McNeil are holding for you Mr. Akina.
by billfromlaketravis on Feb 14, 2011 10:29 AM CST reply actions
Esp the mustache.
"I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day." -Frank Sinatra
Just in Time
After the news about Black Christmas following Grey’s change of heart, I was feeling pretty low.
Thank you
I think Quandre said it best:
quandre10: BEST DB coach in the country is back in burnt orange!!!
16 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
ItzKeNnyV: Coach Akina came back!
25 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Speaks Volumes of him
That he could put aside his pride and return. Very happy to have the Stache back
whoa. great news.
what the hell happened in AZ? either way, welcome back amigo.
"you can destroy a man, but you cannot defeat him." - e.h.
Tex-mex > Ariz-mex
Putting corn in the chimichanga was a deal breaker, IMO.
by Horncasting on Feb 14, 2011 10:39 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Also
they put a fried egg on top of their enchiladas on Arizona. That right there was reason enough to come back.
Simplicity is always the secret, to a profound truth, to doing things, to writing, to painting. Life is profound in its simplicity. - Charles Bukowski
by windycityhorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
What's not to like about that?
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 11:22 AM CST up reply actions
Seriously. I love me some Arizona mex
That and the buffalo burgers were my favorite parts of my semi-temp assignments in AZ.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
Not saying it's not for everyone
Just saying that apparently its not for Akina.
by Horncasting on Feb 14, 2011 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
Dude
Fried eggs on the enchiladas is legit. And I grew up on the border.
"I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day." -Frank Sinatra
by lnghrn53 on Feb 14, 2011 11:22 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
This!
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
I love me a fried egg
especially on pancakes, but I don’t like the yolk running all over my enchilada.
That said, compared to what we get in Chicago, I’ll take Texas or Arizona Mexican any day.
Simplicity is always the secret, to a profound truth, to doing things, to writing, to painting. Life is profound in its simplicity. - Charles Bukowski
by windycityhorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
Defintately.
I’ll also say, I prefer them stacked. Crucify me if you must, but I think they’re better that way.
"I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day." -Frank Sinatra
I'm with you on that.
My parents are both from AZ and we always made them stacked…in fact, I may have to do that tonight. It’s been forever…
I am now about to walk into my kitchen and make a stack of fried eggs
Skipping the pancakes.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 12:32 PM CST up reply actions
Gotta disagree
Chicago has some quality Mexican fare – and the second largest Mexican-American population in the U.S.
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Feb 14, 2011 3:12 PM CST up reply actions
I would've thought that'd be Houston
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 10:01 PM CST up reply actions
Learn something new everyday, I guess
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 15, 2011 4:47 PM CST up reply actions
I would have guessed Phoenix
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 15, 2011 5:15 PM CST up reply actions
I think he was supposed to be part DC or something
I remember he got a title pulled and his only real reason to leave is for something upward. Arizona is definitely a downward move when you consider that he went to the same position.
TEXAS FIGHT
I think this pretty much sums up what kind of roller coaster ride we have been on since UCLA
Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I’d like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where’s the Tylenol?
A gun rack... a gun rack. I don't even own *a* gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack. What am I gonna do... with a gun rack?
GIVE THAT GUY
A MOTHER FUCKING SIREN! :-)
In Mack Brown We Trust!
I'm pretty sure this was all an elaborate ruse to screw over a Stoops brother.
by billyzane on Feb 14, 2011 10:49 AM CST reply actions 5 recs
Well then, it was definitely worth it. :-)
What we have here is a failure to execute.
by dimecoverage on Feb 14, 2011 10:53 AM CST up reply actions
On Mike Stoops? That was a complete waste of Akina’s time.
What we have here is a failure to execute.
by dimecoverage on Feb 14, 2011 3:36 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
On the mighty Stoops empire, such as it is.
BTW, Happy Valentine’s Day.
I Hope Akina Got A Healthy Raise
And I suppose Grey has now burnt his bridges to a crisp.
Does this mean Muschamp
is coming back as DC?
Akina and Curtis Riser commit in the same morning?
I’m really happy to have Akina back. I was hoping Mack would ask him if he wanted to come back.
TEXAS FIGHT
Better off if this whole ordeal hadn't happened
But I think we can all be pretty happy with the outcome. I would have loved to have Jerry back here, but if theres one position coach who has had consistent success, its got to be Akina. Glad to have him back.
by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 14, 2011 10:57 AM CST reply actions
Whew
With all the bad luck Texas football has had this year, I thought I was a curse. This makes me feel alot better.
I could hear....
Blake Gideon celebrating from way out here. Before his spot was in jeopardy. Today, he has the spot firmly locked up.
--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---
You're just
the best kind of a fan
I wish I could play little league now... I'd kick some fuckin' ass.
If I were that kind of person
I’d ask you to go do something to yourself.
…But I’m not that kind of person.
Does the position coach or offensive coordinator determine who starts in the secondary?
by cj43 on Feb 14, 2011 7:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I meant defensive coordinator above.
by cj43 on Feb 14, 2011 7:36 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
If you read between the lines
In Kirk Bohls’ recent article that corroborates the Recruitocosm posts from last year, Mack Brown has final say in starters.
Don't confuse the....
… apologists with the facts.
--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---
Just to be clear...
…everyone who was knocking Gray for his quick departure will similarly criticize Akina for leaving Arizona so quickly, right?
To be filled in later.
by Hopkins Horn on Feb 14, 2011 11:12 AM CST via mobile reply actions
He's not even getting a million dollar raise!
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 11:17 AM CST up reply actions
Yes
Although I’m awfully glad to have him back.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Re-thinking this: no, I won't criticize Akina, if Stoops did indeed retract the co-DC title that Akina was promised
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
Wasn't the word that Akina tried to come back when that happened but it was too late
If so, then Stoops shouldn’t be surprised. It does stink for Arizona fans though.
Yep, it's hard to understand why Stoops did that
But I’ve long since given up trying to understand the cold machinations of a Stoops mind.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
I used to think Mack was a CEO coach
Now I think he is the ring leader for a clown show.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
Don't get me wrong, I freaking love Akina.
If you were to tell me what was going to transpire during the last month, I would have LOLed and LMAOed and probably gave you a WTF or an AYFKM.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
No, we're the clown show here.
They just trying to keep up with the Boners.
Someone on BON said something about how Akina almost returned, but then things were too far with Gray to go back
That sort of made me wonder whether this could happen, which is why I posted that short of getting Akina back, I would be extremely unoptomistic about the back-seven coaching.
This is really the best thing that could’ve happened, IMO, other than maybe Gray’s jumping out of a cake at a junior days meal and saying April fools.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:18 AM CST reply actions
I would pay to see that.
"I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day." -Frank Sinatra
Bud Adams already did.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
We have not agreed on a ton of things in the past.
This is not one of those.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
Double negative.
But very positive.
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
Exactly
I’m whimsical
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 1:03 PM CST up reply actions
Will he also take over special teams again?
This makes me happy, I didn’t want to see Akina go. All those DBs in the NFL speak to his abilities.
Simplicity is always the secret, to a profound truth, to doing things, to writing, to painting. Life is profound in its simplicity. - Charles Bukowski
Just so long as those DBs don't return punts
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:24 AM CST up reply actions
I think Akina at DB under Coach Doom at DC >
Than Gray at DB under Coach Doom. The dynamic of the great Jerry Gray being able to be a position coach under a young guy like Diaz was a serious concern. The possibility for second guessing was just too much.
I love Akina coming back. And, sorry to the ASU fans since I know they are going to be bummed on losing him so quickly.
Akina represents a safety net.
Gray probably would have come across as undermining.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 11:26 AM CST up reply actions
Jerry Gray would have...
…made Diaz a much better DC. Diaz’s development would have been ramped way up with the mentorship of Jerry Gray. Many (most) of you fella’s don’t have any idea just how much we’re going to miss the coaching of Jerry Gray.
--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---
Probably never will know, in fact
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
Reverse is also true
You probably don’t have any idea how much Akina will help Diaz.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 14, 2011 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
Only if he finally.....
…. learns to coach a zone. Aren’t you tired of watching our opponents’ WRs catching the ball uncontested? You enjoy watching our safeties trailing the opponents’ WRs into the endzone by 4 yards?
--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---
Stats
Over the last 8 years, our defense has averaged 18.9 pts/game. That puts us most years in the top 20 total defenses and some years top 15. I’ll take it and Akina, especially in light of total coaching staff overhaul.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 15, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions
It's a no decision
One of those that you don’t have to think about twice. The stats, resume and players he’s put in the NFL are close to being inarguable.
We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 15, 2011 7:29 PM CST up reply actions
Still would have been nice to have Gray
;-)
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 15, 2011 9:01 PM CST up reply actions
Nor do you...
…since he never did it. Let’s first see how he does at the job he really wanted. He’s not a “no brainer” at DC on either level.
The DB coach is not suppose to be the DC's mentor
It was an awkward situation that has now been corrected. Wins all the way around. I wonder if a call from Coach Akina the other day didn’t help Mack hand Jerry a plane ticket to Tenn.
I was on campus with Jerry Gray and he was absolutely a fantastic player. When he took the job I was always concerned about his ability to work under the young Coach Doom. My money is that Mack is thrilled with this new coaching staff and prefers Akina and is thrilled to have him back. This also may be the reason Gray was initially going to honor his commitment and then apparently changed his mind.
Maybe he was told that timing would actually be better if he did go to Tenn. and that his bridge is not burned.
To be a fly on the wall the last few months
I think the Longhorn Network is going to make a killing with its first new mini-series “BS- The Behind the Scenes look at coaching changes.” Crazy, it is.
Mini-soaps every week.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll blow boogers bigger than Bevo ever imagined.
Mack is "thrilled" with.....
…. Akina? How is that? Then why did Mack ask Akina to begin looking elsewhere?
Oh…. and when did Diaz field the league’s #2 defense…. inconsecutive seasons? Oh, that’s right…..he didn’t. Though Jerry Gray did….. at Buffalo. Let that sink in for awhile.
--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---
Possibly
I think either guy would’ve brought the experience to the defense that Diaz lacks, but at least Akina knows his way around, well, the entire Texas network.
(and of course you mean UA fans)
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
Awesome
Welcome back coach!!! DB and Special teams coach!!!!
by TexasStateHorn on Feb 14, 2011 11:25 AM CST reply actions
It'll be nice to have this back:
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs still remembers the best rah-rah pep talk he’s ever heard. It came from Texas’ defensive co-coordinator Duane Akina, when Akina was a coach at the University of Arizona.
“He had a speech about being the hammer or the nail,” Briggs said. "He brought our biggest defensive lineman to the front of the room and said, ‘Are you the hammer or are you the nail? Put your hand down there. I’m going to swing this hammer. You don’t have to move your hand if you don’t want to, but I’m going to swing the hammer.’ "
Akina swung the huge hammer with a smashing blow just after the player removed his hand and shattered a chair.
“Everybody went bananas,” Briggs said.
The point was made, and the Wildcats won a big game.
Simplicity is always the secret, to a profound truth, to doing things, to writing, to painting. Life is profound in its simplicity. - Charles Bukowski
what?
Mick Leach lost his job for much less than this.
Greg Davis haikus; a lot like his offenses; always go sideways.
by pleaseplaykindle on Feb 14, 2011 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
*Mike
Greg Davis haikus; a lot like his offenses; always go sideways.
by pleaseplaykindle on Feb 14, 2011 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
Haha...it had to have been 2002 or earlier
Kind of a different era, although it wasn’t so incredibly long ago. No YouTube, no failbook, etc.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 14, 2011 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
Well the names have all changed since you hung around
But those dreams have remaine but they’re turned around.
Who’d have thought they’d lead ya
Here where we need ya
Yeah we tease him a lot cause we’ve hot him on the spot, welcome back,
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
Akina's last words at UA
“Suck it, Stoops!”
Every time I feel down and depressed, I think of seven simple words by a true wise man, Matt Leinart: "I still think we're the better team" and I usually end up hurting myself by laughing so hard.
What do you suppose Akina will do now if Stoops re-offers the DC title?
Are we gonna be tracking jets again towards the end of the week? Is this really the end? Is it really even happening? I went to sleep three or four weeks ago and nothing has really changed since I woke up.
Several thoughts, echoing some above:
- Despite everyone’s professed love for Texas the bottom line ain’t burnt orange- it’s green, baby, green.
- I think it’s fairly safe to say that Akina’s last two bouts with a Stoops merit some payback. Perhaps a new corner blitz package.
- Akina owes Mack big time. For saving him from Stoopsville, a place he obviously didn’t like.
- We ended up with the best fit for this position.
Mack to Akina: “This never happened.”
We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 14, 2011 1:14 PM CST reply actions
Mack, Akina, Applewhite--a wink and a grin
And Cuervo shots all the way around. I bet they are laughing their asses off right now. Who would have ever predicted this. It is so bizarre that it has to mean we had hit bottom and can only go up from here.
Being as they're all friends
I bet Akina will receive some well-deserved grief over this. Glad he had the juevos to set his pride aside.
We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 14, 2011 2:36 PM CST up reply actions
I Hope This has Stopped the Orange Bleeding
maybe we can move forward now.
“A fan favorite” I don’t know if this is true or not.
He wasn’t a fan fav when he was the defensive coordinator.Also I’ve heard him blamed for our poor special teams performance.
He will probably move on if offered the DC job somewhere else but he provides stability to our team for now.
by TCB Orange Dino on Feb 14, 2011 1:46 PM CST reply actions
JERRY GRAY TO ARIZONA: STOOPS STRIKES SWIFTLY
Greg Davis haikus; a lot like his offenses; always go sideways.
by pleaseplaykindle on Feb 14, 2011 3:14 PM CST up reply actions
??
In the early to mid 2000’s didnt we have an awesome special teams under coach Akina?!?!?!? UT was right there with Virginia Tech in most blocked punts!!?? I believe??
And we have an Olympic caliber long jumper
I know he isn’t that tall, but let Goodwin fly at that baby!!!
Mack Brown wants your sandwich. For Texas.
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
Noel Coward
RIP Skip Akina
Jan 21st 2011
Might have something to do with this as well…
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
LSB: "Oh shit, JD. You crazy!"
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Feb 15, 2011 3:37 PM CST up reply actions
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