Sources: Former Longhorns’ secondary coach Duane Akina returning to Texas as a defensive analyst
Duane Akina coached the defensive backs at Texas from 2001-13, helping develop one NFL draft pick after another during that time
AUSTIN, Texas — Steve Sarkisian is bringing back longtime Texas defensive backs coach Duane Akina as a senior analyst, multiple sources confirmed to Horns247.
Akina spent the 2023 season as a senior defensive analyst working with the secondary at Arizona alongside new Texas co-defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Johnny Nansen, who served as Arizona’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons.
From 2001-13, Akina was the defensive backs coach at Texas under Mack Brown, helping to develop one NFL draft pick after another in the secondary, including Rod Babers, Nathan Vasher, Cedric Griffin, Tarell Brown, Kenny Vaccaro, Thorpe Award winners Michael Huff and Aaron Ross as well as future NFL Pro Bowlers Michael Griffin and Earl Thomas. Akina also coached current Texas safeties coach Blake Gideon when Gideon was a safety for the Longhorns (2008-11).
Akina wasn’t retained at Texas when Charlie Strong took over as football coach in 2014 and spent the next nine years at Stanford as defensive backs coach before joining Jedd Fisch’s staff at Arizona in 2023.
Akina helps fill the void left by Joey Thomas, a senior analyst who focused on the secondary before taking a job on Jeff Choate‘s staff at Nevada as secondary coach and passing game coordinator.
During his time coaching defensive backs at Texas, Akina led Top 10 pass defenses in 2003, 2005 and 2010. The Longhorns led the nation in interceptions in 2009 with 25, led by Earl Thomas, who had eight interceptions. Vasher finished his Texas career under Akina tied for the school record in career interceptions with 17.
In 2005, Akina helped lead a Texas defense and secondary that ranked fourth nationally in pass efficiency defense (96.7), eighth in pass defense (172.0 ypg), eighth in scoring defense (16.4 ppg) and 10th in total defense (302.9 ypg). Akina also mentored Huff as Texas’ first-ever Jim Thorpe Award winner and produced three All-Big 12 performers out of the secondary.
In 2006, despite losing two players who wound up starting for their NFL teams in Huff (Raiders) and Cedric Griffin (Vikings), Akina helped Aaron Ross become Texas’ second consecutive Thorpe Award winner. Safety Michael Griffin also capped his Texas career with All-America honors.
The duo of Michael Griffin and Ross went on to be drafted back-to-back in the first round, 19th by the Titans and 20th by the Giants, respectively. They both earned starting positions in the NFL with Ross and the Giants advancing to the Super Bowl in Ross’ rookie season. Tarell Brown was the third Texas defensive back drafted that year (a first for UT since 1984) as Brown was chosen in the fifth round by the 49ers.
