TUCSON, Arizona — The University of Arizona has officially announced the promotion of Danny Gonzales to the position of defensive coordinator, coupled with the hiring of former player Joe Salave’a as associate head coach and defensive line coach.

Last season, Gonzales took on the roles of linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, contributing significantly during Brent Brennan’s inaugural year as head coach. Prior to joining Arizona, he had a notable tenure as the head coach at New Mexico for four years and served as the defensive coordinator at Arizona State from 2018 to 2019. His coaching career also includes a role as the defensive backs coach at San Diego State.

Gonzales steps into this new role following the transition of Duane Akina, who will now focus on coaching the defensive backs.

In addition to Gonzales’s promotion, Joe Salave’a joins the team with an impressive background as a two-time all-Pac-10 player from 1994 to 1997. He enjoyed a successful nine-season career in the NFL. Salave’a has previously held coaching positions at institutions such as Miami, Oregon, Washington State, and San Jose State.

These changes aim to strengthen Arizona’s coaching staff and enhance the team’s overall performance as they prepare for the upcoming season.