Texas to hire Arizona's Johnny Nansen as co-defensive coordinator, LBs coach

NS_headshot_clearbackgroundby:Nick Schultz•01/06/24•

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Texas is preparing to hire Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen as its new co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, according to On3 and Inside Texas’ Eric Nahlin. He will replace Jeff Choate, who recently left to become the next head coach at Nevada.

Nansen has spent much of his career in the Pac-12, previously working at Washington, USC and UCLA prior to his time at Arizona. In fact, while at UW, he worked for Steve Sarkisian as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator from 2009-11 before switching to assistant head coach and running backs coach from 2012-13.

Nansen then followed Sarkisian to USC and stayed there after his departure. In 2020, Nansen left to become the defensive line coach at UCLA, and joined Jedd Fisch’s staff at Arizona as a first-time defensive coordinator in 2022.

The Wildcats took a big leap this past season under Johnny Nansen’s watch, going from 467.7 yards allowed per game to 357.9 yards on average. It was part of an impressive turnaround under Fisch’s watch, which culminated with a victory in the Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma to reach 10 wins, just two years after a 2-10 season.

Choate is preparing to leave Texas after three years with the Longhorns. Prior to the Sugar Bowl, Sarkisian addressed his departure and said he’s “fired up” for Choate to get the opportunity at Nevada. It will be his first head coaching opportunity since he was at Montana State, where he had a 28-22 record over four seasons.

“As far as Coach Choate, first of all, I’m so fired up for him,” Sarkisian said. “He took a little bit of a leap of faith when he came here. He’s the head coach at Montana State. He had built that program. They were competitive, they were competing for championship. To come here as a linebacker/co-defensive coordinator, was a little bit of a leap of faith, looking for something that could be even better in return. Making the investment that he did.

“I’m sure like all of us, he was thinking, ‘What the heck am I doing?’ when you’re 5-7 after Year 1. Like, ‘I don’t know if this was the right move.’ But now after Year 3, to be the head coach at Nevada, a great program. I know they’re a little down on their times right now. We all get hired for a reason. He’ll do a heck of a job.”