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Sports

Sumlin says coaching Arizona is ‘the right challenge’

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New University of Arizona Wildcats head football coach Kevin Sumlin speaks during his introductory press conference at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility today in Tucson, Ariz. Sumlin succeeds Rich Rodriguez, who was fired in December.

TUCSON, Ariz. >> Kevin Sumlin was introduced as head football coach at Arizona today, calling it “the right place and the right challenge” for him.

The 53-year-old coach, fired after compiling a 51-26 record the past six seasons at Texas A&M, confirmed that he will retain Marcel Yates as defensive coordinator. He made no other announcements about assistants but there are consistent reports that he will bring in Noel Mazzone as offensive coordinator.

Sumlin, who also coached four seasons at Houston, takes over just 13 days after Arizona fired Rich Rodriguez after a notice of claim was filed with the state attorney general’s office alleging he ran a hostile workplace.

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