Go for it now.
That’s it. That’s all I’ve got.
Go. For. It. Now.
Hire Johnny Nansen.
We suspect the Arizona Wildcats’ coaching search is going to move fast – and it should – and that as of Monday at noon, based on reporting from Jason Scheer on the PHNX Wildcats podcast and our sources, early interviewees have been Cal coach Justin Wilcox, San Jose State coach Brent Brennan and Arizona offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll.
Let’s be clear. There are some fine choices there. Other names mentioned in the media world – including Texas State up-and-comer GJ Kinne – are super intriguing.
But I’m on Team Nansen.
Nansen, the team’s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, has the best chance to hold the roster together after Sunday’s departure of Jedd Fisch to Washington. Scheer said there was an Arizona players-only meeting Monday morning, adding that there will be a coordinated effort to support Nansen as the head coach. (Carroll is reportedly following Fisch to Washington.)
“There are players telling people that if Nansen is the guy, they are likely to stay,” Scheer said.
Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan were reportedly at that meeting. If those two team leaders decide to stay, there’s a chance that the impact of Wildcats players entering the transfer portal will be more of a trickle than a cannon ball splash.
And then the Wildcats will be back on track to win big, perhaps in unprecedented ways, in 2024.
(Although running back Jonah Coleman already dipped into the portal Monday.)
I would typically say that the players shouldn’t dictate who a university hires. I get that. But times have changed. The players have options, too. The decision-makers at Arizona aren’t doing their job well if they don’t at least consider the input of their most valuable “employees.” The hashtag #HireNansen was trending on social media Sunday night.
This isn’t fantasy football. Relationships matter.
But then you ask, can the dude coach? Can Nansen lead? I don’t know! And I don’t much care. Because the Wildcats should 100 percent be in Go For It Now mode. If school president Robert C. Robbins and Dave Heeke think Nansen has the goods to be a capable head coach, then let’s get this thing done ASAP … and make sure Nansen has a plan to hire a great coaching staff around him.
To that point: Obviously, Nansen just left for Texas about 10 days ago to be co-defensive coordinator, but not the defensive signal-caller. That move is easily undone. What do contracts mean, anyway? Meanwhile, Arizona defensive backs coach Duane Akina is reportedly set to join him with the Longhorns. But Texas hasn’t officially announced that, and the thought is that Akina would stay at Arizona if Nansen returned.
There are no guarantees about anything or with any coach Arizona could hire. But let’s go for it. #HireNansen. Let’s, as the late football coach Mike Leach always said, “Swing Your Sword.”
Fisch’s Wildcats have built toward this 2024 moment, and let’s see if Nansen can carry Arizona to the finish line – which means contending for a Big 12 championship and a berth in a 12-team College Football Playoff.
“The biggest threat is losing players and continuity with momentum going into the season,” a well-connected Wildcats alum told me Monday. “Any hire should have that priority in mind.”
Yes.
Fisch built something special at Arizona, but he isn’t so special that he can’t be successfully replaced.
There is not a shortage of strong candidates. The other candidates all have their plusses. Wilcox – whose Cal program actually offered Fifita a scholarship four months before Arizona – and Brennan are known for their people skills, as well as their football acumen.
But they may or may not be able to keep the core of Arizona’s 10-3 team together for 2024.
Nansen looks like he can.
Whatever happens after that can be dealt with then.
Go for it. Now.
Top photo: Johnny Nansen should be on the Arizona Wildcats sideline next season. (Photo by Mike Christy, Arizona Athletics)
