There were highs and lows — more lows than highs — in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s first year with head coach Brent Brennan at the helm.
When Brennan was hired exactly a year ago Thursday, he waltzed into the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium with his wife, Courtney, a UA alumna, and a few of his front-office staffers from San Jose State.
Over two decades after joining the late Dick Tomey’s staff at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Brennan landed his dream job as the leader of UA football. A 4-8 inaugural season and feeling the wrath of disgruntled ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football fans throughout 2024 was akin to a nightmare for Brennan.
New University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football coach Brent Brennan, center, and his wife, Courtney, a UA alumna, sing along to the UA’s “Bear Down†fight song as they arrive on campus to meet with Wildcat players for the first time.
Brennan said after ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 49-7 loss to rival ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State in the Territorial Cup, “This year was not fun.â€
“It was absolute misery,†he said. “There were some fun moments, but not nearly enough. I feel bad, because I feel like I let down these players, I let down this community and I feel like I let down this university.â€
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Here’s a timeline of the most critical moments for the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football program leading up to Brennan’s hiring and how life has been for the Wildcats since then.
Jan. 10, 2024: Longtime Alabama coach Nick Saban retired after 17 seasons as head coach of the Crimson Tide. Saban had a 206-29 record and won six national championships and nine SEC championships at Alabama.
Jan. 12, 2024: Alabama hired Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, who led the Huskies to a national championship appearance, as Saban’s successor.
New Washington head coach Jedd Fisch laughs during a press conference to introduce him to the community, Jan. 16, 2024, in Seattle.
Jan. 14, 2024: After leading the Wildcats to their first 10-win season in nearly a decade, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Jedd Fisch accepted the Washington position after three seasons in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Fisch, who was “very, very close†to a contract extension at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, signed a seven-year, $54.3 million contract at UW. Washington athletic director Troy Dannen, who is now at Nebraska, posted a video on social media of Fisch signing the UW contract in his ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ home. Fisch held a team meeting before his departure was reported. He became the first head coach to leave ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ since Larry Smith in 1986. Multiple ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ players, including running back Jonah Coleman and cornerback Ephesians Prysock, transferred to UW.
Jan. 16, 2024: Brennan was officially hired as the 31st head coach of the Wildcats following seven seasons at San Jose State, where he posted back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2022 and ‘23. Brennan signed a five-year, $17.5 million deal at the UA.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke sits with Brent Brennan, the new head football coach, for a press conference with the media, Jan. 17, 2024.
Jan. 17: Brennan and athletic director Dave Heeke held an introductory press conference at Bear Down Lounge at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium. Said Brennan: “All I can say is that I am incredibly honored to be the head coach at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. This is an amazing moment for me. I’m trying to get to know the team. I absolutely believe we can build a consistent winner here. We have everything you need to do that.â€
Jan. 20: Nearly a week after Fisch was named head coach at Washington, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ stars Noah Fifita, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, among several others, announced their decisions to stay at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ with a video during the first timeout break of the UA-UCLA men’s basketball game at McKale Center.
UA football standouts Tetairoa McMillan, right, and Noah Fifita, left, cemented their legacy as Wildcat legends when they appeared on the court at McKale Center on Jan. 20 to announce they’d be staying in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Jan. 21: San Jose State hired Ken Niumatalolo, who was a coaching target for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 2018, as Brennan’s successor. San Jose State went 7-6 and lost to South Florida in the Hawaii Bowl in Niumatalolo’s first season.
Jan. 23: In the middle of the university’s financial crisis, Heeke was fired after nearly seven years at the UA. Heeke’s last day was on Feb. 2. UA softball coaching legend Mike Candrea served as interim athletic director. Since Heeke was fired without cause, he will be paid his base salary, which totals about $1.05 million, through March 2025.
Desireé Reed-Francois has a list of pillars or “five priorities†that she has been sharing with UA athletes, coaches and staffers.
Feb. 19: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ hired Missouri athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois for the same position. Reed-Francois, a graduate of the James E. Rogers College of Law at the UA, was also an athletic director at UNLV. Her first day at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was on March 3.
March 26: UA football kicked off the first spring practice schedule under Brennan.
April 16: The two-week spring transfer portal window officially started. Several ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ players, including starting nose tackle Bill Norton, entered the transfer portal during spring ball.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan wears a boot on his left leg while watching the Wildcats during spring football practice in late April.
April 20: One week before ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s spring game, McMillan suffered a leg injury that required “a little procedure.†McMillan was held out for the rest of spring practices and gradually worked his way back during preseason training camp in August.
April 25: Former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ left tackle Jordan Morgan was drafted by the Green Bay Packers at No. 25 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft. Morgan became the highest-selected UA player in the draft since Chris McAlister in 1999. Morgan was the first ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ offensive lineman to land in the first round since John Fina in 1992.
Defensive back Gunner Maldonado gets some selfies for fans along the east side stands just after the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s spring game.
April 27: Former UA wide receiver Jacob Cowing and tight end Tanner McLachlan were drafted on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ played its spring game, which was the school’s last live football event on Pac-12 Network before the UA entered the Big 12.
April 30: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ star cornerback Tacario Davis, who entered the transfer portal before spring practices, withdrew his name from the portal to play another season with the Wildcats.
June 16: The Wildcats announced the 16 players they signed in the transfer portal since April.
July 2: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was voted fifth in the 16-team Big 12 media poll. Five players received preseason All-Big 12 nods: McMillan, Savaiinaea, Davis, linebacker Jacob Manu and kicker Tyler Loop.
July 10: Brennan, Fifita, Manu, McMillan and safety Gunner Maldonado attended Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Aug. 12: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ entered the season ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the highest preseason ranking for the Wildcats since 1999. It was ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s first time in the preseason AP Top 25 since 2015.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, left, and quarterback Noah Fifita celebrate after McMillan’s catch-and-run score in the third quarter of the Wildcats’ season-opener against New Mexico, Aug. 31, 2024.
Aug. 31: UA opens the Brennan era with a 61-39 win over New Mexico. McMillan set a program record with 304 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Transfer running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who had 13 carries for 106 rushing yards and a touchdown against his former team, was held out for the remainder of the season due to eligibility concerns.
Sept. 7: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat in-state rival Northern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 22-10. The Wildcats had a nine-game winning streak dating back to the previous season, which was the longest active winning streak in college football.
Sept. 13: No. 20 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ suffered its first loss of the season, a 31-7 loss to 14th-ranked Kansas State in Manhattan. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ fell out of the AP Top 25.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ defensive back Tacario Davis celebrates with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ fans in the stand after the win.
Sept. 28: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ upset 10th-ranked Utah 23-10 in its Big 12 opener. The win marked the Wildcats’ first win in Salt Lake City in a decade. Davis’ five pass breakups earned him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Matt Adkins took over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Dino Babers. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ defensive back Treydan Stukes suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Oct. 5: The Wildcats lost to Texas Tech 28-22 for the first home loss of the season and the first setback in Big 12 play. Maldonado suffered a season-ending leg injury. Loop set a school record with five field goals and was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week.
Oct. 12: No. 14 BYU blasted ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 41-19 in Provo. The Wildcats committed four turnovers against the Cougars.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ coach Brent Brennan congratulates defensive back Demetrius Freeney (7) after his coverage on a punt put Colorado deep in its own territory in the fourth quarter of the Wildcats' Big 12 loss to the Buffaloes at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium, Oct. 19, 2024.
Oct. 19: The Colorado Buffaloes, led by head coach Deion Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, routed the Wildcats 34-7 for homecoming. Manu and left tackle Rhino Tapa’atoutai suffered season-ending knee injuries.
Oct. 26: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ lost to West Virginia 31-26 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Nov. 2: UCF clobbered ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 56-12 for the “Space Game†in Orlando. It marked the largest margin of defeat for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ since the 70-7 loss to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State in 2020.
Nov. 16: After a bye week, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ snapped its five-game losing streak with a 27-3 win over Houston in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Nov. 23: The Wildcats fell out of bowl contention with a 49-28 loss to TCU. McMillan passed Bobby Wade for the most career receiving yards at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44) hangs on to trip up ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) after a catch in the third quarter of their Big 12 football game, the 98th Territorial Cup, in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Nov. 30, 2024.
Nov. 30: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ ends the season with a 42-point beatdown by ASU, which punched its ticket to the Big 12 championship game. McMillan and Savaiinaea, who missed his first game at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ with a leg injury, were honored before they declared for the NFL Draft in December. UA finished the season 14th in the Big 12 standings.
Dec. 4: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ signed 20 high school and junior college players for Early Signing Day.
Dec. 5: Brennan announced ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was moving on from its coordinators. Babers wasn’t retained after a one-year deal. Defensive coordinator Duane Akina returned to coaching ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s defensive secondary, and special teams coordinator Danny Gonzales replaced Akina a month later.
Dec. 9: The transfer portal officially opened. Manu, Davis and defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei transferred to Washington. Offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr. transferred to Tennessee and Maldonado left for Kansas State. Nearly 30 players transferred from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ after the season. Despite entering the portal, Stukes and fellow starting defensive backs Genesis Smith and Dalton Johnson returned to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Brent Brennan, the head coach for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football listens to Seth Doege, the new offensive coordinator, during a press conference at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium, Dec. 13, 2024.
Dec. 13: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ hired “innovative offensive mind†and former Marshall play-caller Seth Doege as the new offensive coordinator.
Dec. 18: Fifita “wanted to make amends for what happened†in 2024 and announced his decision to return for his redshirt junior season.
Dec. 28: The transfer portal closed for new entries. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ added more players in the following days. The Wildcats currently have 26 newcomers in the transfer portal.
Jan. 9: After announcing Gonzales as the new defensive coordinator, the Wildcats added “Desert Swarm†defensive tackle and UA great Joe Salave’a as associate head coach and defensive line coach.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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