TUCSON, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 18: Defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen of the Arizona Wildcats watches the action during the second half against the Utah Utes at Arizona Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Utes 42-18. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
The University of Arizona football team is going through another coaching change, as defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen is leaving for the University of Texas at Austin. According to 247Sports, Nansen will take over as the Longhorns’ co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, filling the vacancy left by Jeff Choate, who recently took over as head coach at the University of Nevada.
On December 1, 2021, Nansen took over as Arizona football’s defensive coordinator, and his impact was immediate. Nansen was instrumental in shaping the Wildcats’ future after joining the team. His influence was especially visible in the development of Arizona’s 2022 signing class, which finished second in the Pac-12 and 22nd nationally. This class was a watershed moment for the program, as it featured the program’s first-ever five-star signee.
During his two seasons at Arizona, Nansen was instrumental in revitalizing the Wildcats’ defense. In 2023, the team made an impressive comeback, ranking 29th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring defense, allowing only 21.08 points per game, down from 36.5 the previous year. This defensive turnaround contributed significantly to Arizona’s impressive 10-3 record, the program’s fourth 10-win season in school history.
Nansen’s defensive strategies were on display in the Valero Alamo Bowl, where Arizona’s defense forced six turnovers, leading to 28 points in a thrilling comeback victory over No. 12 University of Oklahoma.
With Nansen’s departure, Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch will have to hire a third defensive coordinator in four seasons. With the expectation that the majority of the Wildcats’ defensive starters will return for the upcoming season, the possibility of promoting from within adds an intriguing dimension to the coaching transition. Duane Akina, a veteran assistant who served as Arizona’s defensive backs coach under Dick Tomey from 1996 to 2000 and as Texas’ co-defensive coordinator from 2005 to 2007, emerges as a strong candidate.
Nansen’s journey will take him to Texas, where he will see long-time friend and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns, who finished the season 12-2, were defeated by the University of Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl.
Nansen had a significant impact on the Wildcats’ defensive success in 2023, and his departure will be difficult. As the program seeks stability amid coaching changes, Fisch’s search for a new defensive coordinator becomes critical to maintaining the positive trajectory established in recent years.
