Jeff Choate, the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach who left the Texas Longhorns to become the head coach of the Nevada Wolfpack last month and stay with them through the College Football Playoffs, has a successor in place, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian. To replace Choate in the same role, Sarkisian is anticipated to appoint Johnny Nansen, the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Wildcats, as reported by 247Sports on Saturday and verified by Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.
Sarkisian and Nansen, a Samoan who was a linebacker at Washington State in the 1990s, have a long history together. In 2009, Sarkisian brought Nansen from Idaho to his first staff at Washington, where he coached the defensive line and oversaw special teams before moving on to become the associate head coach and coach of running backs.
Arizona won four more games in 2022, marking the third-largest victory gain in program history, while the Wildcats forced 16 turnovers, an increase of six over the previous year. Arizona finished fourth in the league in scoring defense (21.1 points per game), fifth in running yards per attempt (3.6 yards per carry), and sixth in throwing yards allowed per game (239.7) in Nansen’s second season as defensive coordinator. Arizona concluded with a 10-3 record and defeated Oklahoma by 14 points in the Alamo Bowl.
Having been the main recruiter for five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote IV in 2018 and the secondary assistant for USC in 2014 when they signed five-star cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and top-50 prospect Ronald Jones, Nansen has a track record of success in the recruiting process.
