Steve Sarkisian expected to bolster Texas support staff with former Longhorns assistant

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Steve Sarkisian is expected to bring Duane Akina back to Austin in a prominent off-field role, sources told FootballScoop on Sunday

Akina currently holds a similar role at Arizona as a senior defensive assistant where, per his U of A bio, he is “in charge of” the secondary. He’s expected to be a senior analyst at Texas, supporting defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach Terry Joseph and safeties coach Blake Gideon.

One of the most accomplished defensive backs coaches in the game, Akina has coached three Thorpe Award winners, six finalists, 12 All-Americans, 41 NFL defensive backs, and seven Pro Bowlers.

The 67-year-old has spent most of his career at Arizona and Texas. His first U of A stint came from 1987-2000 in a variety of important roles — as defensive backs coach for the famed “Desert Swarm” defense, as defensive coordinator, as offensive coordinator, and then as defensive coordinator again.

Akina left Arizona for Texas in 2001. In 13 years there, he developed a number of future pros and helped the Longhorns win one national championship and play for another.

Akina then spent 2014-22 coaching defensive backs at Stanford before his return to Tucson.

Sarkisian has already plucked one key member of Jedd Fisch’s Arizona staff this month, hiring defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He signed a 4-year extension to remain in Austin earlier this week.

As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.