Palo Verde found Todd Mayfield's replacement at Pima College.
The school hired Matt Willard, 32, on Monday to take over the Palo Verde football program, one of the best in the state's 4A-II over the last five years.
Willard was the running backs coach under Pat Nugent at Pima last year. And he was also on Nugent's staff at Flowing Wells and Canyon del Oro. Willard also spent time at Rincon/University under Pat Ryden. Ryden is now Nugent's defensive coordinator at Pima.
“I'm on my way over to talk to Coach Mayfield right now,” said Willard on Monday afternoon. “I know those are big shoes to fill, but I'm walking into a great situation.”
The hiring of a former Nugent assistant worked seamlessly at Canyon del Oro last year. Dusty Peace - one of Nugent's lead assistants during his tenure with the Dorados - became the head man at CDO last offseason and then won the 4A-I state championship during his rookie campaign.
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Willard is 1995 graduate of Flowing Wells, as was Peace (in 1999).
