The University of Arizona has parted ways with Head Coach Kevin Sumlin after 12 consecutive losses, including a 70-7 loss at the hands of Arizona State University. Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads will serve as interim coach for the Wildcats regular season finale. Sumlin's career won-loss record stands at 95-63, but just 9-20 at Arizona. Sumlin coached four years at the University of Houston, including a 12-1 season.
After the 2011 season Sumlin was named coach at Texas A&M University, in his first year the Aggies went 11-2 with Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. The team went to bowl games in each of Sumlin's six seasons in College Station, but did not do better than 4-4 in conference play. Sumlin recruited quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen, but both ultimately transferred elsewhere. Over his three years with Arizona, the Wildcats had one of the nations worst defenses, including 118th in 2019 and 121st so far this year.
Sumlin will get $17.7 million from buyouts from Texas A&M and Arizona.
With Sumlin's departure, there are just 12 Black coaches in FBS football (three in the Pac-12), Dino Babers, Karl Dorrell, Herm Edwards, James Franklin, Thomas Hammock, Jimmy Lake, Mike Locksley, Jay Novell, David Shaw, Lovie Smith, Willie Taggart and Mel Tucker.