Arizona made official what had been swirling around the Internet for the last few days as former Boise State defensive coordinator Marcel Yates has agreed in principle to join Arizona’s staff in the same capacity to fill the role left by Jeff Casteel when he parted ways with the Wildcats earlier this month.
Yates joins a staff that added former San Jose State secondary coach and another noted recruiter Donté Williams on Sunday.
Through his last two seasons at Boise State, his second stint with his alma mater, Yates was able to bring a turnaround for the Broncos’ defense. In 2015 Boise State finished 12th in total defense (318.3 yards per game) and 18th in scoring defense allowing an average of 20.2 points. Boise State ranked fifth in 2015 with 31 takeaways and was in the top 10 in 2014 as well.
Under Casteel in 2015 Arizona finished No. 114 in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense.
“Arizona is a great opportunity for me to be a coordinator in the Pac-12 at a school and conference I have great respect for,” Yates said in a statement released by Boise State. “To have this opportunity speaks volumes about my time at Boise State, and how people think about this program nationally.”
Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin’s squad faced Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl in 2014 and he understands how these opportunities come to be.
"It goes without saying that we wish Marcel the best of luck at Arizona,” Harsin said in a statement Monday. “Above everything, Marcel is a friend, and we know what he has meant to our program as a player, assistant coach and defensive coordinator. When you are one of only two schools in the country to rank among the top 20 in scoring defense and scoring offense, you know that losing coaches is inevitable.
“We have a process and system others want to emulate, and we understand this is the nature of the business.”
Yates is the biggest piece to what will be a revamped defense for Arizona in 2016 as will replace its entire defensive staff from the previous year when all is said and done. Jahmile Addae, another strong recruiter, was promoted to an on-field position after the season ended and the Wildcats continue to have an open defensive line coach spot to fill as well.
The focus for Arizona going into the hiring process and coaching search was to improve its recruiting efforts, especially in the major base California, as well as get younger on the coaching staff. With the the first three moves this offseason the Wildcats have done that.
The ‘Cats are set to begin spring ball early next month and the final hire should be complete within the next few days.
