Mose Rison, cousin of Andre Rison, picked to fill last football coaching opening after two years with the New York Jets

Arizona football filled its last coaching vacancy with former New York Jets wide-recievers coach Mose Rison, Monday.

Rison was hired to replace Mike Borich, who left after less than three months on the job. Borich was the sixth UA football coach to leave in the off-season. Rison worked for the Jets for two years. Rison coached at Stanford for the five years before that, during which time the Cardinal went to the Rose Bowl.

"Obviously, I'm excited about being here," Rison said. "I remember a lot of good things about Arizona football from my time at Stanford. It's a great opportunity to be part of a great coaching staff. I tried a few times to be on various coach Mackovic staffs, but it didn't work out at the time. This is an exciting prospect," he said.

Rison, the cousin of five-time pro bowl wide receiver Andre Rison, was fired by the Jets in the off-season after two seasons, a move the New York Daily News called a "stunner." During Rison's tenure, the Jets won the AFC East championship in 2002 and an AFC Wildcard in 2001 with a receiving core dubbed "Six Feet Under" by New York papers, since most of his receivers were less than six feet tall.

"We are indeed fortunate to have Rison coach our wide receivers," UA head coach John Mackovic said. "He is an accomplished coach at the Division I-A and NFL levels and has tutored several outstanding players. He will be able to join us immediately and will learn our offense easily. We also will be aided by his contributions to the personal development of young players and his insights into our offensive planning for the year."

Rison, who started coaching college in 1981 at his alma mater Central Michigan, has also coached for Navy and Rutgers and the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens and served on the NFL's Minority Coaching fellowship program.

In other UA coaching news, the Arizona Board of Regents approved last week the altering of softball head coach Mike Candrea's contract. The alterations will allow Candrea to work part time during the 2003-04 school year while he coaches the USA softball team full time in preparation for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Candrea will continue to aid UA recruiting efforts and be at some practices in the fall, Assistant Coach Larry Ray, former head coach of Florida, will step in for Candrea in 2004.

"It is obvious (coaching team USA) is a great honor," Candrea said. "I feel very honored to have the opportunity and look forward to it."

Last week Candrea led team USA to a 7-0 record at the USA Cup, winning the tournament with a 6-0 win over Canada on Sunday. Former Wildcat standout Jennie Finch won two games, pitching a one hitter and no hitter.

ABOR also gave three-year extensions to director of men's and women's track and field and cross country Fred Harvey, women's golf coach Greg Allen, men's golf coach Rick LaRose, gymnastics coach Bill Ryden and women's tennis coach Vicky Maes. They each also received raises, ranging from $150 to $4,550 more a year.

All the contracts have yearly performance bonuses of one-twelfth the coach's salary for a team that wins the Pac-10 and/or NCAA championships. The coaches can also get bonuses ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 for team grade point average and graduation rate goals.