The latest addition to the Arizona Wildcats’ coaching staff checks several boxes.
Former Nevada defensive coordinator Scott Boone is set to become Arizona’s linebackers coach. The official announcement could come as soon as Tuesday, the Star has learned.
First, as mentioned, Boone has coordinator experience. He was the Wolf Pack’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach the past three seasons. Before that, he spent three years in the same role at William and Mary.
Second, Boone is familiar with some key parts of the country, including Nevada and Utah, where the UA actively recruits. While Boone was at Nevada, the school offered six players who are currently committed to Arizona. Additionally, three Wildcats who were freshmen this past season — linebacker Jacob Colacion and defensive backs Lorenzo Burns and Isaiah Hayes — had offers from the Wolf Pack. Those pre-existing relationships only can help.
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Third, UA coach Rich Rodriguez has known Boone for years, dating to their days at lower-division schools in the 1980s and ’90s. Boone, 57, began his coaching career at his alma mater, Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Fourth, the addition of Boone enables UA defensive coordinator Marcel Yates to coach defensive backs, where he has an extensive background. Yates coached linebackers last season in his first year in Tucson.
Yates was the centerpiece of the new defensive staff Rodriguez put together last offseason. Cornerbacks coach Donté Williams left for a higher-paying position at Nebraska earlier this month, creating an opening.
Nevada parted ways with its head coach, Brian Polian, after a 5-7 season, making Boone and other staff members free agents. The Wolf Pack took a step backward in 2016, ranking last in the nation in run defense entering this week’s bowl games.
In his first two years in Reno, Boone made a positive impression. Nevada lowered its points allowed each season.
Boone spent 10 years overall at William and Mary. He was a finalist for FCS Coordinator of the Year in 2013, according to his Nevada bio.
Before that, Boone was the head coach at Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Virginia, for seven seasons.
Boone helped Nevada defeat Colorado State in the inaugural Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl last year. Arizona beat Nevada in 2014 and 2015 with Boone as the defensive coordinator.
Boone likely will get a raise at Arizona. He salary at Nevada was about $180,000, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. Williams’ first-year salary at the UA was $215,000.
Football Scoop first reported the news of Boone’s impending hire.
