SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat Tailback Clarence Farmer was faced with yet another setback after being suspended indefinitely from the UA squad last weekend.

Mackovic brings in former UA assistant as new coordinator

Less than 24 hours after losing its fifth assistant coach in less than a month, the Arizona football team filled a void yesterday, hiring former UA and Texas A&M assistant Mike Hankwitz as its new defensive coordinator.

Following the departures of assistants Rob Ianello and Charlie Camp this week for Wisconsin and Oregon State, respectively, Hankwitz becomes the team's third new coach to be added to the staff so far this offseason.

The hiring of Hankwitz gives the program two new faces at the coordinator positions, with the addition last month of Mike Deal to handle the offensive duties.

Hankwitz has been a college coach for 33 years, spending the last six as defensive coordinator at A&M. Hankwitz orchestrated the Aggie defense that ranked in the top 10 in total defense, passing, or scoring defense in 1998, 2000 and 2001 as the spearhead of the team's famed "wrecking crew" defense.

Hankwitz's previous stint at Arizona came from 1973-76, serving as a defensive ends coach for one year and defensive backs coach for three seasons on the staff of then-head coach Jim Young. Current UA head coach John Mackovic was a UA assistant at the same time as Hankwitz, holding the offensive coordinator post under Young.

Mike Hankwitz Defensive Coordinator

Mackovic was optimistic about the addition of someone with Hankwitz's experience.

"Mike Hankwitz has a long and established career as a defensive coach, and he has excelled at every stop along the way," Mackovic said. "We are fortunate that someone of his caliber is joining us at this time."

Hankwitz said he was excited about the chance to be a part of the Wildcat program and coaching with Mackovic again.

"He's a proven winner," the 55-year-old Hankwitz said about his new boss. "The program is ready to take off, and having been part of that kind of development before, it's a very exciting prospect to go through it again at Arizona."

The announcement came just over a week after Larry Mac Duff, the team's defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, accepted a job with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.

Even prior to Mac Duff's exit, Mackovic noted the team would be shying away form its traditional double-eagle flex defense. Mackovic said that played a role in his decision to hire Hankwitz, who used mostly a 3-4 defense while at A&M.

"Since we are moving away from the double-eagle flex defense, I felt it was vitally important that someone with a proven system in place be here to coordinate our defense," Mackovic said.

Despite the addition of Hankwitz, Mackovic announced yesterday that spring practice will be delayed until after the UA's annual spring break. The team was to hold four practices before spring break, beginning on March 8, but will begin some point after students return to class on March 24.

Tailback Farmer suspended indefinitely by Mackovic

The rocky off-season continued for the squad as sophomore runningback Clarence Farmer was been suspended by Mackovic, effectively ending his spring season.

Director of Media Relations Tom Duddleston said no information can be released involving the circumstances of the suspension.

"The only comment we can give is that the coaching staff is not allowed to comment," Duddleston said. "It's a situation that everyone around the football program believes will be resolved. In a situation like this it's going to take some accepting of responsibility on the parties involved."

The Arizona Daily Star reported yesterday that Farmer was suspended during a one-on-one meeting between the running back and Mackovic. The Star continued to say that Farmer did not know how long the suspension would last, or what his current standing on the team was, but that he was forbidden to work out with the team, or use the weight room.

Mackovic told the Star that he could not comment on the situation, citing the Privacy Act.

Farmer suffered a season-ending knee injury three weeks into the schedule and spent the majority of the season resting and rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee.