Wildcat: Congrats on your recent hiring as an assistant head coach at Texas. Are you excited to return to the college ranks?

Tomey: I am. I'm really excited. Of course, I'm excited to be with (UT head coach) Mack Brown and (UT assistant head coach) Duane Akina - two people I think a lot of - and obviously I feel like it's a great opportunity. I enjoyed professional football, but I really probably feel like I just spent so long in college football that it's more of a fit for me. I love being around a campus, and I love the whole dynamic, whether it be going to a basketball game or a softball game or spending time with the players.

Wildcat: As the largest university in the nation, I imagine Texas offers a great campus atmosphere.

Tomey: I think so. There are many universities in the country, and Texas is among the best. The people here are phenomenal. If I didn't believe in the people here, I wouldn't be here, because I believe very much in Mack and Duane.

Wildcat: Before your stint with the San Francisco 49ers last year, you took a few years off after leaving the UA. What did you do during that time?

Tomey: I was doing some broadcasting, doing Hawaii games. We live in Hawaii; our permanent home's in Honolulu. I did other television, some personal development speaking. I really enjoyed myself. It was a great time for us, but at the end of that two years, it was time to get back to work. I've really enjoyed getting up every day and having something to look forward to doing.

Wildcat: A lot of people in the UA community thought you got a raw deal when you were let go here. How did you feel about that?

Tomey: Well, I didn't like the way it ended. I loved my time at the University of Arizona, and I really appreciate the people there and what they did to make me and my family feel welcome. I love the players and the coaches I worked with, and it was a great experience. I have nothing but wonderful memories of the whole experience because I think you have to take things on balance.

Wildcat: After you left, the program went through the worst stretch in its history. Did you keep track of what was going on, and how did you feel about it?

Tomey: Sure, I kept track, because I cared so much for so many people that were there. I hated to see things happen that way, and I'm excited about (new UA head football) coach (Mike) Stoops and his program and what he's trying to do. I've talked to him several times, and he's been terrific. It'll be fun to watch the program go to new heights. Now they have everything that it takes in terms of facilities and support, and they increased all the support - whether it be salaries or facilities, they have just gone to a whole new level.

Wildcat: Did you ever talk to any of your former players who had trouble adjusting to Mackovic?

Tomey: I don't think we talked. We exchanged e-mail. I just tried to encourage the players. My whole perspective was to try to encourage them to work hard and do the right thing and try to do what their coach wanted them to do.

Wildcat: You're often called a players' coach. Is that an accurate term, and how do you feel about it?

Tomey: Well, I think the term "players' coach" - people mistake that. People mistake that for meaning you're soft or don't work players hard, and I don't think that's the case. (Southern California head coach) Pete Carroll is a players' coach, but he works his players hard. I tell them how much I care about them, but I work the dickens out of them. If you care and they know you care, you can work them harder. All the people I know in the profession that are termed players' coaches, they operate that way. Most coaches are players' coaches because your players have to perform.

Wildcat: How different is the football culture in Austin from the one in Tucson?

Tomey: I really can't say about that. I don't know. There were so many people in Tucson; we got tremendous support. I really haven't been here long enough to make any comparison. Both have great overall programs and facilities.

Wildcat: Are there any players in particular whom you remember most from your time here?

Tomey: I really enjoyed all the players, and that means the walk-ons, the guys that were just struggling to make it, the guys who were having difficulties. To me, it's just a magical time in a kid's life. To just be part of that and be influential in any way, it's a magical experience. When you're someplace 14 years, that's a long time, and I'm very proud of what we accomplished (at Arizona). To be the second-winningest program during that whole decade was a great accomplishment. We had a program that people really felt good about. The players and the coaches within the program loved being in the program.