By
Brian Penso and Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
New UA head coach mixes new hires, assistants from Tomey
Arizona head football coach John Mackovic completed UA's coaching roster for the 2001 season by hiring five new coaches and retaining four from the Dick Tomey era.
Mackovic was hired in early December to replace Tomey, who resigned following the Wildcats' 30-17 loss to in-state rival Arizona State on Nov. 24.
Of Mackovic's five new hires, only two assistants - defensive ends coach Steve Bernstein and tights ends coach Jay Boulware - have previous coaching experience alongside the 57-year old head coach.
Bernstein, 56, served as Texas' defensive secondary coach under Mackovic from 1992-97.
"(Bernstein) is one of the best recruiters in the country," Mackovic said. "I am tickled to have the opportunity to work with him again."
Bernstein has been a college football coach for the past 30 years coaching for such programs as LSU (1998-99), Texas (1992-1997), Illinois (1988-91), Colorado (1985-87), Virginia Tech (1978-84), Wake Forest (1973-77), Utah State (1970-72) and the Quantico Marines (1969).
"I have been coaching football for 31 years and, most of all, I can bring experience to the team," Bernstein said. "Arizona has a great defensive tradition and I am looking forward to being a part of it."
Bernstein - who said he is looking forward to working with Mackovic - will also coach whip linebackers.
"I am just really excited to be at Arizona as well as being reunited with Mackovic," Bernstein said.
Boulware, 28, joins the Arizona staff after a stint at Northern Illinois University, where he coached tight ends, guards, and tackles.
"Boulware is a former player and coach of mine, and I am excited about being reunited with him," Mackovic said.
In addition, Mackovic named Rick Dykes as the Wildcats' offensive coordinator and Bobby Kennedy as the team's running backs coach. Scott Pelluer will handle UA's special teams.
Dykes, son of former Texas Tech head coach Spike Dykes, spent the past year working in private business.
While at Texas Tech, Dykes coached 1993 Doak Walker Award winner Bam Morris and Heisman Trophy finalist Byron Hanspard.
Kennedy, 34, is a young coach with a large resume. He has worked under Penn State's Joe Paterno, Purdue's Joe Tiller, as well as Mackovic while he was at Illinois.
Kennedy has spent the past six seasons coaching both running backs and receivers at Wake Forest.
Pelluer, 41, will have to make the transition from coaching high school football at Skyline High School in Seattle to Pacific 10 college football.
While at Skyline, Peuller doubled as a color analyst for Washington State football radio broadcasts.
"I have known him for several years," Mackovic said. "I have had my eye on him for a while. He didn't know it, but I did."
Mackovic did not completely restock the Wildcat coaching staff, however, retaining four of Tomey's coaches.
Offensive line coach Charlie Dickey, who has coached the Wildcats for the past ten seasons, was released in December only to be rehired two days later.
The other three returning coaches will be defensive coordinator Duane Akina, defensive line coach Marty Long, and wide receivers and recruiting coordinator Rob Ianello.
Akina, who has been with Arizona since 1987, will serve as the team's defensive coordinator after serving as UA's associate head coach and defensive secondary coach last season.
Mackovic said that Akina's familiarity with UA's "double flex eagle" defense was a factor in his hiring.
"With the double flex defense, I wanted someone with experience to teach and coach it," Mackovic said. "(Akina) has been one of the top coaches on this staff and this is a wonderful opportunity for him to assume a leadership position."
The new coaches will meet with the players for the first time tomorrow.
