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The transformation of Arizona offensive football has been evident in the past two years after it took a new direction in early 2007 with the hiring of spread-offense specialist Sonny Dykes.
Under Dykes' leadership, Arizona has set single-season records for passing yards, passing yards per game, completions, touchdown passes and completion percentage, plus racked up a pile of single-game records under departed quarterback Willie Tuitama. His career figures for yards, yards per game, completions and TDs are Arizona's best.
Fond of the passing attack, Dykes enters year three of the transformation with solid expectations for continued development, despite working in 2009 with a new quarterback. The foundation of the system under Dykes - which helped UA rate 16th in scoring and 33rd in total offense - is intact. Better still, his system developed outstanding run-pass balance in 2008.
Dykes was co-offensive coordinator working with head coach Mike Leach and inside receivers coach Dana Holgorsen running Texas Tech's wide-open passing attack in 2005-06, and was Tech's wide receivers coach since 2000. The Red Raiders were among the national top six in total offense and passing during the span.
Dykes, 39, was named the All-American Football Foundation's Mike Campbell Top Assistant Award in 2006 and was cited as one of the nation's top college football recruiters by Rivals.com. He was instrumental in Tech's record-setting passing attack which in his career has seen receivers set numerous individual school and Big 12 Conference records.
Dykes is the son of Texas Tech coaching legend Spike Dykes. His older brother, Rick, was UA's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under John Mackovic in 2001-02.
Career Highlights
• Coached quarterback Willie Tuitama to second-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2008 and helped him post Arizona single-season and career passing records in nearly all major categories in two years under Dykes' system
• Helped the Wildcat offense add unpredictability in '08, with 400-yard balanced attack. UA was in league's top half in all major offensive categories
• Led Arizona to a No. 10 finish nationally in passing yards per game in 2007.
• Coached then-junior Tuitama to honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors in 2007, and helped develop the offensive scheme that pushed receiver Mike Thomas to first-team all-league status as a junior and senior ('08).
• Boosted Arizona's offensive output by 145 yards per game and boosted its pass efficiency rating a remarkable 43 points from 2006 to 2008. The club finish second in the Pac-10 in passing offense with a school-record 308 yards per game in 2007.
• Texas Tech was No. 3 in passing and No. 6 in total offense in 2006 under his co-direction, throwing for 370 yards and accumulating nearly 450 overall. • Directed an offense that scored 32 points per game in 2006, had two receivers in Division I-A's top three and a third in the top 20 in receptions per game.
• Coached Joel Filani to the No. 3 finish in national receiving yards per game at 100. Filani had 91 catches for 1300 yards and 13 scores. Robert Johnson had 89 catches for 11 TDs.
• Helped develop Filani into two-time first-team All-Big 12 honors and a sixth-round NFL draft selection by Tennessee in 2007. Receiver Jarrett Hicks signed a free-agent deal with San Diego.
• Worked with quarterback Graham Harrell who completed 412 passes for 4,555 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2006, to rate third nationally in total offense.
• Named to the All-American Football Foundation's Mike Campbell Top Assistant Award. Cited as one of the country top college recruiters by Rivals.com. • Coached former Tech pupil Carlos Francis to 20 career scoring receptions and a fourth-round NFL draft pick by Oakland in 2004. • Coached TTU receiver Derek Dorris to an NFL season with the Giants in 2002. Also mentored Kentucky receiver to draft selection and a career with the Falcons.
• Coached Kentucky's James Whalen to AP All-America honors after his Division I-A record for receptions by a tight end.
• Helped Northeast Louisiana receiver Marty Booker set school season and career records, and earn Blue-Gray and Shrine Game spots before third-round 1999 NFL selection by Chicago. • Helped lead Navarro Junior College to the Texas state championship game in 1996.
• Lettered for three years as a baseball player at Texas Tech.
Dykes' Coaching Career 1994 Baseball assistant Monahans, Texas H.S. 1994 Football assistant Pearce High School, Richardson, Texas 1995 Running Backs Navarro College, Corsicana, Texas 1996 Passing Game/QBs Navarro College 1997 Grad Assistant/TEs Kentucky 1998 Receivers Coach Northeast Louisiana 1999 Special Teams/WRs Kentucky 2000 Receivers Coach Texas Tech 2001 Receivers Coach Texas Tech 2002 Receivers Coach Texas Tech 2003 Receivers Coach Texas Tech 2004 Receivers Coach Texas Tech 2005 Co-Offensive Coordinator/WRs Texas Tech 2006 Co-Offensive Coordinator/WRs Texas Tech 2007 Offensive Coordinator/QBs Arizona 2008 Offensive Coordinator/QBs Arizona 2009 Offensive Coordinator/QBs ArizonaDykes in Bowl Games 1999 Music City Bowl Kentucky grad assistant 2000 Galleryfurniture Bowl Texas Tech assistant 2001 Alamo Bowl Texas Tech assistant 2002 Tangerine Bowl Texas Tech assistant 2003 Houston Bowl Texas Tech assistant 2004 Holiday Bowl Texas Tech assistant 2005 Cotton Bowl Texas Tech co-coordinator 2006 Insight Bowl Texas Tech co-coordinator 2008 Las Vegas Bowl Arizona coordinator
The Dykes File Date of Birth: Nov. 9, 1969, Big Springs, Texas High School: Coronado High School, Lubbock, Texas, College: Texas Tech, 1993 Kentucky, 1999 Playing Experience: Texas Tech, baseball 1989-93 Recruiting Areas: Dallas, West Texas Family: Married to Kate Golding, July 2006; Daughter, Alta Caroline (Ally) born 2008
Wednesday, Nov 4
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