Jeff Casteel Hometown: Paden City, W. Va. High School: Paden City HS Last College: California, Pa., '84, '86 Position: Defensive Coordinator/LBs Coach At Arizona: First year; 29th year in coaching

(Click here for Casteel family portrait)

Veteran defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel was appointed to take over Arizona's defense on Jan. 11. He'll also coach linebackers in the second level of UA's scheme.

Casteel was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at West Virginia since 2003 and spent the season before that in Morgantown as co-coordinator. He worked with the defensive line at WVU in 2001 and as defensive ends coach at UTEP in 2000.

His multiple spread defense, the 3-3-5, normally uses three down linemen and at times up to half a dozen defensive backs. His 2011 version helped the Mountaineers contain a potent Clemson offense and beat the Tigers, 70-33, in the 2012 Orange Bowl, with four turnovers gained, one for a score.

He began his coaching career at California University in Pennsylvania as a graduate assistant from 1984-86, and then coached the defensive line at Palmetto High School in Miami, Fla., for a year.

He was the defensive line and strength coach at Shepherd University in Sheperdstown, W. Va., in 1989 and 1990 and assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1991 to 1999 at Shepherd before moving to Division I football at UTEP.

He has 28 years of coaching experience and was Rivals' 2007 Defensive Coordinator of the Year and its 2008 Big East coordinator of the year. He has coached in 11 bowl games.

Shepherd teams won West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles six times while he was assistant head coach. He's been part of a WVU staff that has led the Mountaineers to an average of 10 victories per season from 2006-2011, two of those under Rodriguez.

Among some of Casteel's noteworthy defenses at WVU were units that were best in the Big East and No. 13 nationally in rushing defense and 25th in turnover margin in 2006; No. 7 in total defense, No. 8 in scoring defense, No. 9 in turnover margin and top 20 marks in sacks and rushing defense in 2007; and No. 11 in scoring defense and top 20 marks in turnover margin and pass efficiency defense in 2008.

He began his coaching career at California University in Pennsylvania as a graduate assistant from 1984-86, and then coached the defensive line at Palmetto High School in Miami, Fla., for a year.

He was the defensive line and strength coach at Shepherd University in Sheperdstown, W. Va., in 1989 and 1990 and assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1991 to 1999 at Shepherd before moving to Division I football at UTEP.

He has 28 years of coaching experience and was Rivals' 2007 Defensive Coordinator of the Year and its 2008 Big East coordinator of the year. He has coached in 11 bowl games.

Shepherd teams won West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles six times while he was assistant head coach. He's been part of a WVU staff that has led the Mountaineers to an average of 10 victories per season from 2006-2011, two of those under Rodriguez.

Among some of Casteel's noteworthy defenses at WVU were units that were best in the Big East and No. 13 nationally in rushing defense and 25th in turnover margin in 2006; No. 7 in total defense, No. 8 in scoring defense, No. 9 in turnover margin and top 20 marks in sacks and rushing defense in 2007; and No. 11 in scoring defense and top 20 marks in turnover margin and pass efficiency defense in 2008.

The Casteel File

Hometown:       Paden City, W. Va.
High School:    Paden City HS
College:        California University (Pa.) '84
Master's:       California University '86
Family:         Wife, Rosemary; children Jacob and Sarah
Recruits:       Tucson, Arizona, defensive players

Casteel's Coaching History2003-2011: West Virginia University, defensive coordinator/LBs 2002: West Virginia, co-DC, linebackers 2001: West Virginia, defensive line 2000: UTEP, defensive ends 1991-99: Shepherd University, AHC/DC 1988-90: Shepherd University, DL/Strength coach 1987: Palmetto HS, Miami, Fla., defensive line 1984-86: California, Pa., University, grad assistant

Casteel in the Bowls 2011: Orange Bowl, WVU coordinator 2010: Champs Sports, WVU coordinator 2009: Gator, WVU coordinator 2008: Car Care, WVU coordinator 2007: Fiesta, WVU coordinator 2006: Gator, WVU coordinator 2005: Sugar,WVU coordinator 2004: Gator, WVU coordinator 2003: Gator, WVU coordinator 2002: Continental Tire, WVU co-coordinator 2000: Humanitarian, UTEP assistant