In 2000, Duane Akina left a role as Arizona's defensive coordinator to coach defensive backs at Texas. A quarter century later, history repeated itself.
Akina, after two seasons on staff at Arizona and one as coordinator, is taking the safeties role vacated by Terry Joseph on Monday, sources confirmed to FootballScoop. Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods first reported the news.
Akina coached Texas's defensive backfield from 2001-13, a tenure so successful that the Longhorns began calling themselves DBU. Safety Michael Huff (2005) and cornerback Aaron Ross (2006) became the first back-to-back Thorpe Award winners from the same school in the award's history, and both players were among the 14 Longhorns coached by Akina to be drafted, including six first rounders. All five starters from Texas's 2005 national championship-winning secondary were drafted.
Akina now returns to a Texas defensive backfield in its strongest position since the mid-2000s. Cornerback Jahdae Barron won the school's third Thorpe Award last season, safety Andrew Mukuba will join Barron in the NFL draft, and returning safety Michael Taaffe was a Second Team AP All-American in 2024. Texas's No. 1-ranked 2025 recruiting class included two 5-star DBs in safety Jonah Williams and cornerback Kade Phillips, and the secondary ranked No. 2 nationally in pass efficiency defense last season while tying for the national lead in yards per attempt (5.9), touchdown passes (nine) and interceptions (22).
Akina was expected to return to Texas last winter in a support staff role until Brent Brennan made him his defensive coordinator. Now, offered a chance to mold the secondary while working with new cornerbacks coach Mark Orphey, Akina's return to Austin is complete.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
John Brice contributed to this report.