Arizona assistant football coach Duane Akina, Texas’ secondary coach for the past 10 seasons, is returning to Austin to the same job he left last month, officials at both schools confirmed today.
Texas officials have yet to release a statement but plan to issue one later this afternoon. Arizona officials have announced Akina’s departure, including a statement from him. In the statement, Akina said: “I’m not happy that I had to put both of these institutions in this situation. It’s been a tough month for me and my family making these decisions. Any time you have younger children, it becomes a very difficult decision and that was the driving force behind this decision.”
Akina left Texas in January to join the Arizona staff. He was replaced at the time by former Texas player Jerry Gray, a longtime NFL assistant coach who opted Saturday night to become the defensive coordinator of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
In addressing Akina’s departure at a Jan. 31 news conference, Texas coach Mack Brown said Akina made the move to Arizona _ at least in part _ to be closer in proximity to a brother who was in failing health and subsequently died.
_ Jimmy Burch
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