List of Arizona Wildcats head football coaches explained

The Arizona Wildcats football program is a college football team representing the University of Arizona that is a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The team has had 31 head coaches and two interim head coaches since its founding in 1899. The Wildcats have played in more than 1,100 games in 113 seasons. Arizona's most recent head coach is Brent Brennan, who became the 31st head coach in 2024.[1]

Nine coaches have led Arizona in postseason bowl games: Pop McKale, Mike Casteel, Darrell Mudra, Tony Mason, Larry Smith, Dick Tomey, Mike Stoops, Rich Rodriguez and Jedd Fisch. Four of those coaches also won conference championships: Tex Oliver captured two and Casteel one as a member of the Border Conference; and LaRue and Young captured one as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

McKale is the leader in seasons coached with sixteen. Tomey is the leader in games won with 90. Leslie Gillett is the leader in winning percentage with a perfect 1.00. Mike Hankwitz has the lowest winning percentage of those who have coached more than one game, with 0.143. Of the 14 different head coaches who have led the Wildcats, Mudra has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Coaches

No.! scope="col"
NameSeason(s)
GCOWOLOTO%CWCLCTC%PWPLPTCCNCAwards
11899
21900–1901
31902
41903–1904
51905
61908–1909
71910–1911
81912
91913
101914–1930
111931
121932
131933–1937
141938
151939–1948
161949–1951
171952–1956
181957–1958
191959–1966
201967–1968
211969–1972
221973–1976
231977–1979
241980–1986
251987–2000
262001–2003
Int.2003
272004–2011
Int.2011
282012–2017
292018–2020
302021–2023
312024–present

Statistical leaders

Updated as of January 2024Most overall wins

Most Pac-12 wins

Highest overall winning percentage (min. 20 games)

Highest Pac-12 winning percentage (min. 20 games)

Lowest overall winning percentage (min. 20 games)

Lowest Pac-12 winning percentage (min. 20 games)

Pac-12 championships

National championships

References

General

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arizona hires San Jose State's Brent Brennan as head football coach .