Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez has hired a majority of his coaching staff for the offensive side of the football, but the search to find a defensive coordinator and defensive staff has taken longer than expected. That search might be over if the reports are true that West Virginia Mountaineers defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel will join RichRod's staff within the next 48 hours.
Casteel is expected to bring at least one Mountaineers assistant with him to Tucson: The Wildcats must hire two more defensive assistants, and special teams and tight ends coaches.
Casteel has been with WVU since 2001 and was Rodriguez's DC while there. When RichRod left to take the Michigan job, Casteel originally followed him but decided to stay at West Virginia shortly thereafter.
Casteel's defense have routinely ranked among the best nationally in scoring defense and turnover margin. He is rumored to be looking for a change of scenery from Dana Holgersen's offense-first mindset, which was on full display in the Orange Bowl.
For more updates on Rich Rod's Cats, keep a close eye on Wildcats blog Arizona Desert Swarm and SB Nation Arizona. Here's our 2011 College Football Coaching Carousel Tracker.
Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez has hired a majority of his coaching staff for the offensive side of the football, but the search to find a defensive coordinator and defensive staff has taken longer than expected. That search might be over if the reports are true that West Virginia Mountaineers defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel will join RichRod's staff within the next 48 hours.
Casteel has been with WVU since 2001 and was Rodriguez's DC while there. When RichRod left to take the Michigan job, Casteel originally followed him but decided to stay at West Virginia shortly thereafter.
Casteel's defense have routinely ranked among the best nationally in scoring defense and turnover margin. He is rumored to be looking for a change of scenery from Dana Holgersen's offense-first mindset, which was on full display in the Orange Bowl.
For more updates on Rich Rod's Cats, keep a close eye on Wildcats blog Arizona Desert Swarm and SB Nation Arizona. Here's our 2011 College Football Coaching Carousel Tracker.