Brent Brennan, Not Justin Wilcox, to Be Hired at Arizona
San Jose State head coach Brent Bennan is expected to be named Arizona's head football coach, according to multiple reports, including ESPN, on Wednesday.
There had been speculation that Cal coach Justin Wilcox might be a candidate for that job, but the hiring of the Spartans' head coach makes more sense.
Brennan agreed to a five-year deal to become the Wildcats next head coach, replacing Jeff Fisch, who accepted the Washington head coaching job after Huskies head coach Jalen DeBoer left to become Alabama's head coach.
Brennan was at San Jose State for seven seasons and was a finalist for the Arizona job when when Fisch was hired in 2020.
The 50-year-old Brennan led San Jose State to a 26-19 record the past four seasons, and the Spartans played in three bowls in that period. So it will be Brennan who will lead the Wildcats in their first year in the Big 12 next fall.
The hiring of Brennan makes more sense than the reports that Arizona might be interested in Wilcox. Wilcox turned down an offer to be Oregon's head coach a few years ago and was considered a possible candidate for the Washington job. However, he played his college football at Oregon and was a defensive coordinator at Washington for two seasons, and those association were the reasons he was connected to those jobs. He has had no previous association with Arizona, which made speculation that he might be considered by Arizona less credible.
This hiring of Brennan also may end the speculation that Wilcox might be a candidate for a head coaching job elsewhere, although things are always fluid in the world of college coaching changes.
Cover photo of Brent Brennan by Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports
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