Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez walks on the sideline during the third quarter of the territorial cup against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Football continues busy off-season, highlighted by the vacant Defensive Coordinator position that will likely be filled by Monday.

The whirlwind of rumors that had head football coach Rich Rodriguez was potentially leaving for South Carolina has not slowed down the Wildcats’ rather uneventful off-season. Just days ago, Arizona announced DC Casteel and his assistant will not return next season.

Once a staunch advocate of the vaunted 3-3-5 defense, it appears Rodriguez may have had a change of heart somewhere along the way. The question is, which direction does he go? It isn’t surprising to say that Rodriguez has certainly not had quite the same defensive success at Arizona that he had during his glory days at West Virginia.

The coaching search has been all hearsay at this point, but a few candidates that have been linked to the job are; John Jancek, former Defensive Coordinator at the University of Tennessee, Tosh Lupoi, Linebacker coach for the 2016 National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide, Marcel Yates, Defensive Coordinator at Boise State, and Paul Rhoads, as well as others.

The belief is Arizona will have a Defensive Coordinator named by this Monday, but the speculation has indeed been buzzing the last few days.

The Wildcats will host Defensive JUCO Recruit Josh Allen this weekend and if the Wildcats have any chance of getting a commitment, they need to have an idea of who that coach will be.

In arizona Friday — JayJay (@2LiveStokess) January 11, 2016

There has been plenty of lobbying by Arizona fans for the hiring of former Desert Swarm Defensive greats Chuck Cecil and Ricky Hunley.

However, we must remember, Arizona is not Michigan. Rich Rodriguez was hired to change the culture, and make Arizona Football a much better product, and overall a much better national brand. Part of his undoing at Michigan was the fact he was undermined as head coach in not being able to name all of his assistants. After all, he tried to change longtime traditions, and he wasn’t a “Michigan Man”.

As much insight and experience Cecil or Hunley could potentially provide, we, of course, do not want to bring tension to the program, nor should we force Rodriguez into a rash coaching hire.

Regardless, the coaching search has gotten quite interesting, and it is believed Rodriguez wants a younger Defensive Coordinator. One that is going to enjoy the recruiting process, and be a bit more of an active recruiter, something Casteel and Kirelawich were not.

Either way, exciting days are ahead! BearDown!